The biggest names in the basketball world are beginning to arrive in Toronto for NBA All-Star weekend and it has the city buzzing at its core.
The high-profile event will cast a spotlight on the growing popularity of basketball in Canada led by the Toronto Raptors — the country’s only NBA franchise.
The hometown crowd will be well represented with Raptors players Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan both on the All-Star squad.
As a mainstay for the past several years, celebrities will be out in full force to attend many of the parties, events and games on tap this weekend.
The All-Star celebrity game itself on Friday will include the likes of comedian Kevin Hart, Toronto Raptors Global Ambassador Drake, Blue Jays outfielder Jose Bautista, Drew and Jonathan Scott from HGTV’s “Property Brothers,” and Canadian professional tennis star Milos Raonic.
The city itself is also getting a NBA makeover with a number of public services being offered to the vertically advantaged.
The Air Canada Centre is equally ready for the festivities with a complete hardcourt makeover.
In addition to an exclusive Nike pop-up shop in the downtown core, Toronto even has its own sneaker streetcar store ready to hit the rails this weekend.
With all that’s going on in the city, Toronto is primed to welcome the world.