The day started with clear blue skies and an empty lot of asphalt and grass, it ended with a driving rain storm and a state of the art playground and basketball court.

Despite the abundance of precipitation that came down throughout the afternoon, Antawn Jamison along with All-Stars Tim Duncan, Chauncey Billups, Dwight Howard, and hundreds of volunteers, helped build a new playground and basketball court in New Orleans this afternoon.

"This event is what it is all about," said Jamison. "We are here for a basketball event, but the most important thing is reaching out to the city of New Orleans and helping the process as far as rebuilding the city."

The event was part of the NBA Cares program, the league's social responsibility initiative that builds on the NBA's long tradition of addressing important social issues in the United States and around the world. For the Wizards' Jamison, a Louisiana native, the event was even more memorable because it took place in his hometown state.

"Being from here, this is very special," said Jamison. "My parents were here when Katrina happened, and this is home for me. I have Louisiana running through my blood and for the All-Star game to be here, and for me to be here, it is really special. Not only that, but to also come back and help out, it really brings together the whole experience."

The playground was the 8th playground in which the NBA partnered with KaBOOM, a Washington D.C based national nonprofit organization, whose vision is creating a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America.

"This is the one event I was most interested in participating in," said Jamison. "It was great to get my hands dirty and give back to the city. We are doing this for a great cause and this event in particular is extra special because it is really going to help out a lot of kids."