Jose Bautista to help Drake coach at NBA All-Star Celebrity Game
Two of Toronto's most beloved local heroes - Jose Bautista and Drake - will show off their tactical talents on the hardwood next month when the NBA All-Star Weekend comes north of the border for the first time in history.
Bautista, the Blue Jays icon who struts to the plate at Rogers Centre with "Trophies," a Drake tune, blaring through the speakers, will help his homeboy coach Team Canada at the All-Star Celebrity Game on Feb. 12. The pair will also get some coaching assistance from two-time NBA MVP and Vancouver native Steve Nash when they take on Team USA, coached by alleged comedian Kevin Hart, at Ricoh Coliseum.
Team Canada - Coaching Staff
| Name | Affiliation(s) |
|---|---|
| Aubrey 'Drake' Graham | Drake, Degrassi: The Next Generation |
| Jose Bautista | Toronto Blue Jays |
| Steve Nash | Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks" |
Team Canada - Roster
| Name | Affiliation(s) |
|---|---|
| Win Butler | Arcade Fire |
| Milos Raonic | Association of Tennis Professionals |
| Jonathan Scott | Property Brothers |
| Drew Scott | Property Brothers |
| Stephan James | "Race", "Selma" |
| Kris Wu | "Hidden Energy", "Happy Camp" |
| Tracy McGrady | San Antonio Spurs, Toronto Raptors, Sugar Land Skeeters |
| Rick Fox | Los Angeles Lakers, "Oz" |
| Natalie Achonwa | Indiana Fever |
Bautista, a six-time All-Star, has no formal basketball coaching experience, but his leadership role in the Blue Jays' clubhouse could translate well to his new position as Drake's lieutenant.
"I always try to be mindful of peoples' personalities and how they like to be approached, if it’s in a private setting, if they don’t mind if you talk to them in front of everybody, a lot of times I let it be initiated by the other person," Bautista told Sportsnet's Shi Davidi last February.