Drake Accepts the Key to Toronto

Kobe Bryant and LeBron James never met in an NBA Finals, so they squared off another way – they took the opening tap against one another, with Bryant winning.

Will they help the 5-time NBA champ win the NBA All-Star Game MVP on February 14?

“We joked and kind of talked about it”, Curry said following the Western Conference practice Saturday at Ricoh Coliseum. Growing up in the era that I did, Kobe was that guy.

Thomas has come a long way to the all-star game.

Many have made the decision to declare for the draft from high school before and after Bryant, but he is among the most successful players to do so.

“To see him now, it’s like the passing of a generation”, West coach Gregg Popovich said. “Obviously it’s two great shooters, but there are a lot of other great shooters in that group as well”. Though Bryant probably wouldn’t be too unhappy walking away with another All-Star Game MVP trophy. Anthony Davis has 24 for the West has missed only one of his 13 shots.

As Tory said these last words, Drake beamed, became animated and started clapping. John Wall added 22 points.

That Bryant feat remains the best for reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Stephen Curry, who declared: “To score 81 points is just ridiculous”.

He has been given a hero’s welcome at visiting arenas ever since he announced he will retire after this season.

The Wizards star didn’t stop there with his praise for Bryant.

The previous high for points in a game was 163, which had been done twice previously. “We watched him growing up and we wanted to pay respect to him”.

And then there is Bryant.

Lue: Every time we got a new player who came to our team, like Glen Rice and J.R. Rider and those guys, he would always play them one-on-one and let them know like “this is my territory”. Nelly Furtado sang “O Canada”, while Ne-Yo performed the American anthem. Only 19-time All-Star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has more appearances in the elite matchup. “To see the excitement in everyone, from the corporate types, volunteers, the coaches, the parents, and of course, all the fans, is just great”, said the former member of the Canadian men’s Olympic basketball team.

“It’s just bad timing because I know it’s going to be epic and I would love to be there”, he said. “It’s all well-deserved”. Toronto hosted the first game in National Basketball Association history on November 1, 1946, at Maple Leaf Gardens. Neither Naismith nor anyone who saw that game would recognize the way it looked Sunday. But players like Westbrook, Durant and Curry are more than ready to shoulder the load.

Is that fair? Not really, Bryant said.

But he was the star without playing a starring a role.

“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. 18 – Kobe Bryant has been named to 18 straight All-Star Games, a record for consecutive selections. East Starters – G Dwyane Wade, G Kyle Lowry, F LeBron James, F Paul George, F Carmelo Anthony. Kristaps Porzingis and Emmanuel Mudiay both scored 30 points as well.

“He told me to go out there, told me what plays to avoid running, told me: ‘If you want the champagne and cigars, you gotta win'”.