Here is the reason behind playing the Canadian national anthem ahead of the NBA All-Star game
Utah hosts the 2023 NBA All-Star Game, but why was the Canadian national anthem played before the match? Also, the US anthem is sung beside it, why? Have a look
Nothing beats the National Anthem playing while the players get ready in the lineup for the clash.
Team Giannis and Team LeBron will compete in the NBA All-Star Game in Utah.
Why is the Canadian national anthem sung ahead of the NBA All-Star game
The US and Canadian national anthems, The Star Spangled Banner and O Canada will be sung before the game.
The reason the Canadian national anthem was performed at the NBA All-Star game is actually rather very simple. NBA has a Canadian team and it is the Toronto Raptors. This is the only team based outside the United States that plays in the NBA.
In addition to their six divisional victories in 2019, the Raptors won their first NBA title in 2019. In 2022, O Canada was performed at the NBA All-Star Game by Canadian pop artist Ryland James.
He is 22 years old and is from Ontario, which is also the location of Ottawa, the capital of Canada. Macy Gray, a Grammy Award-winning R&B singer, sang the US national song.
Meanwhile, the NBA All-Star Weekend, which concludes in the 2023 All-Star Game, will draw the top basketball players in the world to Salt Lake City.
James will lead the team for the sixth time in a row. 7,418,116 fans cast their votes for the 19-time All-Star. Since the format’s introduction in the 2018 All-Player Game, the Los Angeles Lakers star has served as captain each year, going 5-0.
On the other hand, after leading an All-Star squad in 2019 and 2020, Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks will serve as the opposing captain for a third season.
Also, Team Giannis is 0-2 versus Team LeBron, so he’s still searching for his first victory as captain. 6,761,032 fans voted for the seven-time All-Star.
The selection of All-Star starters was decided by a vote from fans, players, and a small group of media, with fans receiving 50% of the vote and players and media each receiving 25%.