Former NBA basketball player John Salley, who hosted the Sashi Music Festival 22 years 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 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. The team’s highly physical, defense-oriented, and dirty style of play earned them the nickname of the NBA’s “Bad Boys.” Salley played alongside Dennis Rodman, Bill Laimbeer, James Edwards, Joe Dumars, Isiah Thomas, Rick Mahorn, and Dantley.

After losing the 1988 NBA Finals in seven games to the Lakers, the Pistons turned it around and swept the Lakers in four games in 1989. Salley and the Pistons repeated this in 1990, defeating the Portland Trail Blazers in five games.

In the twilight of his NBA career, he suited up for the Chicago Bulls and LA Lakers.

He has appeared in films like Bad Boys and Bad Boys 2. In 2018, Salley appeared in the Netflix original movie Nappily Ever After, starring Sanaa Lathan.

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