Hassam Munir
Sports and Health Editor
As basketball fans around the world get ready to watch the 2016 NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, February 14, members of the York community are weighing in on the exciting event that is being hosted, right here in Toronto for the first time.
“It’s about time the All-Star Game comes to Toronto,” says Imran Patel, a third-year chemistry student. “The city of Toronto is the 4th most populated city in the NBA, and one of the best metropolitan cities in the world. It’s great that the city will get the exposure that it deserves.”
Adam Osman, a third-year environmental studies student, distinctly remembers when he was sitting in a lecture hall at York and got the notification on his phone announcing that Toronto had been selected to host the event. “I’ve been a basketball fan for as long as I can remember,” he says. “I wanted to jump out of my seat because of how excited I was.”
Of course, everyone has their predictions about which star-studded team will come out on top at the Air Canada Centre. Many are saying that the Western Conference will win the game. The reason for this choice, one that many students agree on, is that it’s very difficult to top a team that has Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant, Russell Westbrook, and Kawhi Leonard in the starting lineup.
However, fans aren’t forgetting that two players from the Toronto Raptors will be playing for the Eastern Conference. “I’m going with the East to win,” says Osman, “because it’s in Toronto and we have two all-stars representing the city. And secondly, it’s always fun to cheer for the underdogs.”
“As a Raptors fan, I will of course be watching players Kyle Lowry and DeMar Derozan, the dynamic backcourt of Canada’s team,” says Shariq Jamil, a third-year marketing student.
Some of the students plan to watch the game with their friends from the York community. “I plan on watching it live with some friends from York,” says Farhan Rahman, a fourth-year criminology student and event supervisor for the All-Star Game. “I’m really excited for it. This will be a fantastic event.”
Of course, students plan to do a lot more than just watch the All-Star Game itself this weekend, which will incidentally also mark the beginning of reading week. Other events lined up include the traditional slam dunk and three-point shooting contests, as well as a skills challenge and a game between rising stars in the NBA.
“I’m actually going to a couple of the events,” says Osman. “The Rising Stars Challenge and the all-star practice. I’m excited to see Andrew Wiggins, a future NBA superstar, play in his home country.”
But it is likely that all eyes will be on Los Angeles Lakers legend Bryant. Bryant has been the focus of attention in the NBA ever since he announced earlier in the current season that this game, his 18th, would be his last, as he is set to retire. Sunday will be the last time he comes to Toronto as an active player.
“It’s an honour for the city of Toronto to host Bryant’s final All-Star Game,” says Jamil. “It will be a great sight to watch Kobe, the relentless competitor that he is, don the Western Conference All-Star Game jersey for the 18th and final time.”
Jaabir Patel, a third-year English and French student, says the thought of watching Bryant’s final game in Toronto makes him a bit nostalgic. “I grew up playing Bryant in video games and watching him throughout the playoffs,” he says. “To know that number 24 won’t play for the Lakers next season just doesn’t feel right.”
“Bryant created history in the Air Canada Centre with his 81-point game all those years ago,” says Patel. “It’s great to have one of the all-time greats close out his amazing career with one last all-star appearance this year in Toronto, and I hope the city gives him one big, final farewell.”
