It’s time for the center jump — or to be more accurate, because the 65th NBA All-Star Game is being played in Toronto, the centre jump — for Sunday’s annual showdown between the East and West.
But here’s the problem: There are no centers among the Eastern Conference’s starters, as fans voted in a starting front line of three small forwards, LeBron James, Paul George and Carmelo Anthony. It doesn’t get any better in the West, where they somehow did the same with Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard.
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Clearly, this isn’t like last year’s All-Star Game in New York, when there were two bona fide bigs to handle the opening tip. In the Garden, history was made when the two Gasol brothers, Chicago’s Pau and Memphis’ Marc, went toe-to-toe.
So this year, it’s a problem — however trivial. But it can be both easily and perfectly solved.
Here’s how Cavaliers and East coach Tyronn Lue should handle it: Have Mr. Canada do the honors, as in the Raptors’ Kyle Lowry. Having the Raptors’ 6-foot point guard handle the opening tip doesn’t make a lot of sense from a basketball standpoint, not when he’s the smallest starter in the game. But it’s the symbolism that should carry the day.
The NBA has taken its All-Star Game outside the United States for the first time, as it has put its mid-season classic in the fourth-largest city in North America, in terms of population. There are 12 Canadians playing in the NBA this season — more than any other country outside the U.S.
Besides promoting its remarkable international growth, this weekend is all about drawing attention to the fact that the Raptors have been around since 1995-96. What better way to celebrate that milestone than by having one of their players front and center when the game begins.
Lowry fills the bill, very nicely. He has followed in the impressive and imposing footsteps of Vince Carter, who turned a generation of Canadian kids, including Andrew Wiggins and Tristan Thompson, onto basketball, as he was winning the All-Star Game slam-dunk contest in 2000 and getting the Raptors to the playoffs for the first time that very season.
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Since arriving in Toronto in 2012-13, Lowry has become one of the most popular athletes in Canada.
“It’s amazing to see how huge he’s become with the fans, all over Canada, since when he first got to Toronto,’’ said Raptors broadcaster Leo Rautins. “Now it seems like all of Canada is rooting for him.’’
They will again on Sunday night in Air Canada Centre, and all the way out to Vancouver. As for who he should go up against for the opening tip, this one is a slam dunk, too.
West coach Gregg Popovich should assign Kobe Bryant the job, for obvious reasons. After announcing his retirement Nov. 29, Bryant heads to 18th and final All-Star Game. Only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played in more (19 — a number Bryant would have hit if not for the 1999 lockout).
The fans did their part. Despite battling injuries and ineffectiveness for most of the season, Bryant, 37, received almost 1.9 million votes. That led all players in voting and was almost twice as many as James and Kevin Durant combined. Now it’s really the final time for the league to honor Bryant, since he won’t produce any more memorable moments in the playoffs, with the Lakers having one of their worst seasons in their history.
Do not look for him to come out firing in the showcase, either. “(I) feel horrible," he said Wednesday after his final game before the break. “My ankles, knees, everything. This stretch couldn't come at a better time. My ankles hurt. My knees hurt. So I'm looking forward to having a complete week where I just do nothing.”
Before he gets that chance, he can at least take a leap for a jump ball. That would be an easy send-off to one of the greatest performers in All-Star Game and NBA history.
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During Bryant’s farewell tour, he’s been honored in several NBA stops, including Charlotte, by Michael Jordan, and most recently by San Antonio, with Popovich, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili singing his praises. Popovich perfectly summed up Bryant’s importance during a video tribute that was shown before Bryant’s final game in San Antonio.
“Kobe had the uncommon ability to compete at the highest level, night after night after night, and there aren’t too many people who can do that,” he said. “His professionalism to compete every night has always astounded me. He was always ready to put his foot on your throat and win at all costs. Your competitiveness, Kobe, it’s inspiring.”
That message needs to be sent, far and wide, to let people remember what Bryant did for the NBA. This weekend, let’s honor Bryant — and Canada — the best way possible.
When it’s time for the center — er, centre — jump, let’s have Bryant and Lowry do the honors.
