Former NBA star to host Sashi Music Experience

Former NBA star John Salley, who hosted the last edition of the Sashi Music Festival more than two decades ago, will be returning to this year's Sashi Music Experience set for May 23-26 at Plantation Cove in St Ann.

"When I was living in California, and he was playing for the [Los Angeles] Lakers, we developed a friendship. He is a real music fan. John was there 20 years ago when the last Sashi was held and he is looking forward to being at the next edition in May," Horatio Hamilton, the founder of Sashi, said.

Sashi, the Jamaican R&B, hip-hop and dancehall concert series, made a huge mark in the world of live music production years ago as it featured the likes of Snoop Dogg, Busta Rhymes, Eve and NEXT. The festival returns this year after a 22-year hiatus.

Salley is a popular celebrity figure known for his exploits on the basketball court. He was a member of a Detroit Pistons championship era team that featured three consecutive NBA finals appearances, winning two. The team's highly physical, defence-oriented, and tough style of play earned them the nickname of the NBA's 'Bad Boys'. Salley played alongside players like Dennis Rodman, Bill Laimbeer, Joe Dumars and Isiah Thomas.

He has appeared in films like Bad Boys and Bad Boys II. In 2018, Salley appeared in the Netflix original movie Nappily Ever After, starring Sanaa Lathan.

In 2022, Salley appeared in Sneakerella as a famous sneaker maker and former basketball star.