LOS ANGELES -- It's cold in Los Angeles. From everything I've read about the sunny skies of the LA life, I wasn't expecting this when I exited the Los Angeles International Airport, and felt the whoosh of the air breeze through my face. From there, an Uber ride to the place where I would be staying for the NBA All-Star Weekend, and it was clear that the difference between Manila and California is not merely thousands of miles.
This is my first time in Los Angeles. My first time out of Asia, to be honest. This is also the first opportunity I've gotten to cover an NBA All-Star Game. The thought of being where all the basketball action was going to be was what fueled me during that chilly Wednesday night.
But while I'm new to everything, All-Star Weekend definitely isn't new to the City of Angels. In fact, with this weekend's festivities, LA has now hosted All-Star weekend for a record six times. The last time that LA hosted All-Star Weekend, Kobe Bryant was crowed MVP after he led the West to a 148-143 win over the East.
His stat line during that game? 37 points (on 26 field goals!), 14 rebounds, three assists and three steals. That's a whole lot of Mamba on display in the game.
The relationship between LA and basketball can't be understated. After all, there are four NBA legends immortalized as bronze statues outside Staples Center. Jerry West, Shaquille O'Neal, Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar standing in front of the entrance way is a reminder of the amazing legacy that the Lakers have in basketball.
The Lakers today may not be the world beaters their fans expect the franchise to be, but that doesn't mean that their future isn't bright. It's only a matter of time before up and comers like Lonzo Ball, Brandom Ingram and Kyle Kuzma become stars in their own right and make LA fall in love with them.
For this weekend, it's all about celebrating basketball and it's impact on our culture. The festivities start officially on Friday, as the All-Star Celebrity Game and Rising Stars Challenge is set to tip-off. That doesn't mean that the NBA is waiting until tomorrow, though. As early as Thursday afternoon, booths offering three-point shootouts, NBA trivia showdowns and skills competitions were drawing people.
But this is only the beginning. As cold as the chilly LA weather is, action throughout this NBA All-Star Weekend is going to be red hot. As players and teams descend on LA for the sixth All-Star Game to be held in the area, there's a palpable excitement. It's not only because of the revamped format for selecting players, leading to Team LeBron vs Team Steph. The All-Star Weekend is like a big reunion for everyone involved with the sport we love. And throughout this coming weekend, ESPN5 will be there to cover the sights and sounds at the heart of All-Star Weekend.
As I left Staples Center and returned to South Gate, all I could think about was what was to come. The showcase of world-class athletes, the pomp and circumstance of the entire weekend, and the general merriment of these superstars ready to let loose and have fun. And we all know that when these guys get going, there's no greater show in time.
The clock is winding down, and tip-off to NBA All-Star Weekend is about to get underway. We're ready.