NBA All-Star Weekend in Toronto "was a success on so many levels it’s hard to know where to begin," according to Steve Simmons of the TORONTO SUN. Raptors G Kyle Lowry, who participated in the festivities, thinks Toronto "put itself on the basketball map around the world." He said last night's game, which the West won 196-173 and was highlighted by a celebration of retiring Lakers G Kobe Bryant, "capped a great weekend." Cavaliers F LeBron James said, “Toronto did a helluva job putting on a show" (TORONTO SUN, 2/15). In Toronto, Bruce Arthur writes it is "easy to dismiss all-star games and weekends, but the NBA coming to Toronto was a leap" because Air Canada Centre is small, and residents "have winters here." However, events "were full" and signings "were mobbed." The game "was forgettable," but this weekend "was the culmination of 20 years of basketball" in Canada. However, the game likely "will not return here: the building is too small, and the weather too much" (TORONTO STAR, 2/15).
SHOULD WE TALK ABOUT THE WEATHER? The STAR's Arthur in a front-page piece noted there was "no getting around" talk of the frigid temperatures in Toronto. Pistons F Andre Drummond said, "This is bad. Yeah, nobody's happy about it." Pacers F Paul George: "It's all we've been talking about. The first question is, how are you staying warm?" Wizards G John Wall: "It's worse than New York was last year, and New York was pretty cold." Arthur noted every conversation with a visitor is "like a talk about erectile dysfunction in the movies: You know, I'm so sorry, this never happens, honestly." However, the weather probably "will not ruin" Toronto's reputation in the NBA. Arthur: "Things are going fine. The Enercare Centre, the giant fan nerve centre featuring dozens of basketball courts, was packed with families and fans on Saturday, lining up to see NBA stars or just to shoot hoops, and they were as diverse as this great city" (TORONTO STAR, 2/14). The GLOBE & MAIL's Cathal Kelly writes for those who "live outside Toronto, you will have spent most of this weekend laughing at us, and rightly so." The temperature on Saturday reached 9 degrees below zero, and Kelly wrote, "Every time anyone stepped in front of a microphone, or better yet, a Canadian, the temperature had to be acknowledged in a joking-but-not-joking way" (GLOBE & MAIL, 2/15). In Toronto, Mike Ganter added some of the "more weak-willed attendees may remember the cold snap Toronto was in, but for posterity's sake," this will always be the All-Star Game where Bryant "said goodbye" (TORONTO SUN, 2/14).
ONE OF A KIND: The SUN's Simmons noted it was the "coldest weekend in memory," but all were "present and accounted for." The events are something other major leagues "haven’t been able to duplicate." The NBA has "made this weekend a destination." Simmons: "It’s not just for fans, not just for rich guys looking to attend the right party, but for the people who play the game and those who follow it. They’ve made this a place where not just the invited go, but the players who don’t get invitations go." The league "has something figured out something the rest of sport is just guessing at" (TORONTO SUN, 2/14).
WHO'S GOT NEXT? In Charlotte, Mike Reader reports the NBA yesterday "unveiled the logo" for the ’17 All-Star Game, which will be played at Time Warner Cable Arena. The inspiration for the logo is “Queen Charlotte, for whom the city is named.” The mark includes a crown “reminiscent of the city’s iconic statue” and features the Hornets’ team colors of purple and teal (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 2/15). Meanwhile, in Indianapolis, Nate Taylor noted a "seven-person delegation" from the city was in Toronto to observe the festivities, as the Pacers, the Indiana Sports Corp. and Visit Indy "want the All-Star Game." A league official confirmed Saturday that the Indianapolis delegation was in Toronto to "observe how that city is operating the many events with the NBA." The official also said that '18 "is the earliest year for which the Pacers could make a bid." Pacers President & COO Rick Fuson said that it is "unclear if the Pacers will bid for 2018 or for a subsequent year." Sources said that the team "became serious about pursuing the All-Star Game in December" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 2/14).
