Basketball was prominent in Toronto pre-NBA, he said, but resources and facilities were scarce.
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Usually the Lakers’ star creates this atmosphere after he scores a basket.
Dr. James Naismith, a Canadian educator who developed hoops as a wintertime sport while teaching in New England, popped up as a hologram in Toronto during the NBA’s All-Star Technology Summit.
Bryant answered questions in English, Italian and Spanish while giving courtesy shout-outs to fans from Japan, the Philippines, Taiwan, Greece and India.
Bryant was warmly receptive to the gifts, in the latest thawing of his once-icy relationship with the media.
The Toronto faithful harbour memories of Bryant registering 81 points against the Raptors in Los Angeles 10 years ago, but in this exhibition of stars they will cheer him on to rediscover old magic and perhaps claim a record fifth All-Star MVP award. A Japanese reporter gave Bryant a piece of artwork that depicted Bryant as a samurai.
Air balls, comedic bits and the odd quality play – the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game had a little bit of everything Friday night at the Ricoh Coliseum. To celebrate this, here are what I consider to be the 10 greatest moments in the history of the big Sunday showcase, put into chronological order with just one moment for player for both argument and variety’s sake. “How many players can say they played 20 years and actually have seen the game go through three or four generations?”
There was applause Friday when Bryant took his seat on the dais and when he rose after the 25-minute session had concluded. Toronto’s DeMar DeRozan said, “I patterned my game after him” as a kid in California.
“We all know getting into this what the volatile aspects of the job are”, Popovich said.
The 1996-97 season was the NBA’s 50th and to mark this occasion the National Basketball Association brought out to court the 50 greatest players in the history of the game as part of the 1997 all-star festivities. “The competitiveness in terms of me trying to establish something and prove something, that’s gone”.
“I think just being in LA growing up, watching him, the championships that he won, consecutive championships, just how the city embraced him”, he added when asked about his favorite Bryant moment. “Those are tangible things I felt I could have adjusted”.
Gasol admitted that Bryant’s hard-driving style isn’t for every teammate.
Still, Bryant expressed gratitude for recovering from season-ending injuries to his left Achilles tendon, left knee and right shoulder. “They take over the building, your season-ticket holders have to be in a lottery to see if they get tickets and then they don’t get a good ticket”.
According to Windhorst, sources that have knowledge of what transpired said the Lakers called the Cavaliers in 2007 inquiring about the availability of James for a possible trade with Bryant. “I can guarantee you he’s going to go for the MVP”.
Critics have blamed Bryant, citing his unwillingness to share the spotlight.
He was asked to name three Canadian things without mentioning famed rapper Drake.
Bryant also addressed various news topics.
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Yes, this Splash Brother definitely makes it rain for the Golden State Warriors, but maybe him in a sidecar with Steph Curry driving would be funnier and more accurate. Bryant expressed gratitude former Lakers and Clippers Lamar Odom has traveled to NY after being hospitalized for most of the year after falling unconscious at a Nevada brothel.
