Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist Star on Panini America’s NBA All-Star Saturday

HOUSTON — Two of the best young rookies in the NBA provided an abundance of electricity and star power on Saturday at the 2013 NBA All-Star Jam Session, as former Kentucky teammates Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist took turns wowing basketball fans inside the Panini America booth. Davis, the No. 1 overall pick of the New Orleans Hornets in the 2012 NBA Draft, tipped things off Saturday morning; Kidd-Gilchrist, the No. 2 overall pick of the Charlotte Bobcats, provided a fitting Saturday-afternoon encore.

Both appearances packed a tangible, goose-bump-inducing vibe, hundreds of free autographs and countless smiles. What’s more, the young superstars made the Panini America booth the place to be throughout a jam-packed Saturday, drawing throngs of fans that often swelled to five people deep just to watch the proceedings and snap a few pics.

The appearances also gave curious onlookers a unique, behind-the-scenes look at a Panini America card-signing session as the company’s NBA acquisitions maven, Ivory Tabb, had the players sign their cards for 2012-13 Preferred Basketball after their public signings were completed. Judging by the feedback of those watching, NBA fans and NBA collectors have something in common: They both like what they see in Preferred.

Here’s hoping you’ll like what you see in the gallery below, which details a highlight-filled Saturday at the 2013 NBA All-Star Jam Session.

Stay tuned to The Knight’s Lance for continuing coverage of 2013 NBA All-Star Weekend, including video interviews with Davis, Kidd-Gilchrist and such NBA legends as Tim Hardaway, Dominique Wilkins and Gary Payton.