Day one of NBA All-Star weekend started so cold there were tendrils of steam rising from the Chicago River, the limestone of downtown’s towering Gothic Revival buildings shifting to coral in the sun slowly climbing over Lake Michigan. On the heels of a day that saw intermittent snowfall and flights canceled due to wind and visibility, rerouting incoming media and players alike, Friday morning started clear and with the sense that it was time to get things started.
The court of the Wintrust Arena, located in the South Side of Chicago, had eight blue podiums sprouting from the hardwood.