RAPTORS STARS PLAN TO BASK IN ALL-STAR GLOW
Lowry and DeRozan just want to enjoy the moment this weekend in New Orleans
The third time is the charm, it is said, and if that’s the case it should be a very interesting weekend in New Orleans for Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan.
The two Raptors are making their third trip to the NBA’s midseason jewel and both are well versed in what the weekend can do for them.
DeRozan cuts to the chase when asked what two previous all-star trips have taught him in terms of getting the most out of the weekend: enjoy it, but don’t overdo it.
“The amount of stuff you can say no to, that you never knew before,” he said. “Being able to sit back and enjoy it, not cram everything in, do this, do that, do this. Really just understanding to enjoy being around the guys, whether it’s practising, spectating the Skills Challenge, really just being a fan and enjoying being part of it instead of just running around all the time.” Lowry is of a similar mind. “I’m doing the celebrity coaching, I’m doing the three point (contest), but I’m not doing all the appearances and running around,” he said. “I’m just going to enjoy the time. I’m going to try and lie on my bed a little bit longer, hang with my kids and enjoy the weekend a little bit longer.”
It is DeRozan’s second all-star trip to New Orleans, with his other appearance here at home last season. Lowry carried the Raptors colours alongside DeRozan in Toronto last year, but had the stage all to himself the year prior in New York when DeRozan lost 22 games to injury.
Both players are bringing their families with them this time after previously appeasing the league and team with various appearances.
“It’s still a lot of business but I think the last one (in Toronto), I had (eldest daughter) Diar with me at the dunk contest, having her watch that with me, I think things like that I look forward to, just having her have that experience,” DeRozan said. “I can show her when she’s older and look back on memories like that. I kind of do it for the memories, I do it for my kids, that’s what it’s all about for me. For them to have fun and experience it and one day say, ‘my dad was cool.’ ”
Lowry learned from his first two trips, as well.
“You can run around too much,” he said. “That is what I learned from the first one. Now it’s more about enjoying the day and not running yourself ragged. You don’t need to do everything. You can just sit and look back and relax and go to dinner and enjoy your family. More family time things instead of doing individual stuff.”
That’s not to say the two won’t be soaking up time with fellow all-stars. The skills competition on Saturday night is a mustattend even if you’re not competing. There is a Saturday morning practice and, probably the most special of all, time with the other all-stars getting ready for Sunday’s game. That’s always a big bonding time for all involved.
DeRozan and Lowry are both keenly aware of the opportunity three visits to the annual gathering of basketball’s best affords them and they aren’t about to pass that up.
Perhaps surprisingly — or maybe not, given they see and interact with basketball legends on an almost-daily basis — it’s the non-basketball celebrities taking in the all-star weekend that get them most excited.
“For me it’s always great when you look over there and look in the crowd and you see all the celebrities you watch, the actors, whatever it may be,” DeRozan said. “In a sense they’re coming here to watch you play when we’re so used to watching them entertain and do what they do. Just to look over there and you might see an actor, a singer or whatever and you joke with them and they know you. For me, I look at it like ‘Man, how do they know me?’ For me, that’s the cool part of all-star weekend, just being able to be out there.”
In the end, however, Sunday’s game is still the primary focus of the weekend. First time? Second time? Third time? Even the 10th time, it’s that opportunity to go up against the best players in the world that makes the weekend so special.
“I can’t wait,” Lowry said, his face lighting up like a kid on Christmas morning. “If I get hot, I get hot. If not I’ll just be out there talking trash.”