All-Star Game is headed to Canada
The mid-season contest will be the last one for Kobe Bryant and the first to take place outside of the United States. For story, see page
TORONTO — Of all the goodies Kobe Bryant collects in his farewell season, one this weekend might be particularly useful.
After all, you need a good winter coat in Canada. Though Bryant probably wouldn’t be too unhappy walking away with another All- Star Game MVP trophy.
The final NBA showcase for Bryant and the first to be staged outside the U.S. is in Toronto, the city that staged the first NBA game 70 years ago and is so enthusiastic for basketball now that it could no longer be ignored no matter what the thermometer says.
“I think it’s going to be bonkers,” former Raptors superstar Vince Carter said.
“I think it’s overdue. It’s a great city. I think they’ll be a great host and I think guys are going to have a lot of fun. It’s going to be cold.” Frigid, actually. A relatively mild winter by Canada’s standards will be nothing but a warm memory this weekend, when Saturday’s
forecast is for temperatures near zero degrees and far below it with the wind chill. The players can cover up with the parkas Canada Goose, maker of cold weather outerwear, designed for them.
The NBA long sought warm- weather locations for its winter road trip, and cities that had a good chance for a white Christmas generally had little hope of getting All- Star weekend.
But Toronto, where the Toronto Huskies and New York Knicks played on Nov. 1, 1946, in Maple Leaf Gardens and is so passionate about its Raptors that general manager Masai Ujiri was fined a couple years ago for us-
ing an expletive about playoff opponent Brooklyn — with Commissioner Adam Silver in attendance — is “an ideal host,” Silver said.
“There is a special energy and excitement around All-Star this year, and we’re looking forward to four days of great events that honor our marquee players and legends, celebrate the game, and provide loads of excitement for our fans,” Silver said.
If Bryant heats up, he could add a fifth All-Star Game MVP award to his collection. The events kick off today, the slam dunk and 3-point contests are Saturday and the game is Sunday night.