Basketball's biggest stars have made their way north to Toronto for NBA All-Star Weekend. While players like LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Steph Curry are perhaps making the most headlines, other stars, like the Indiana Fever's Natalie Achonwa, are also taking the city by storm.
A Toronto-area native, the 23-year-old member of Team Canada was thrilled to return home for the all the festivities. Initially slated to participate in the Celebrity Game, Achonwa ultimately opted out because of a recurring knee injury but still is partaking in a weekend chock full of commitments and appearances.
Achonwa graciously allowed me to follow her around on Friday, as she went from one event to another, to document just what it's like to be a star at NBA All-Star Weekend. You'll see very quickly it's not as easy or glamorous as you might think.
8 a.m.: After a 7 a.m. start with hair and makeup, Achonwa arrives to the Sheraton Hotel with her longtime boyfriend, Mario, for a variety of interviews and photo shoots. She does four interviews, for radio and TV, before making her way to the social media suite.
8:45 a.m.: With representatives from Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat, she shuttles from one to the other in mere seconds. From dropping the Canadian flag, like a mic, for a video to a Facebook chat, Achonwa somehow seamlessly transitions between assignments.
Although, when asked about her favorite TV show from a Facebook follower, she struggles for a moment and asks Mario for help. It turns out they, like most of us, like "Making a Murderer" and "How to Get Away with Murder."
8:55 a.m.: After getting her social on, she participates in three photo shoots. No one actually explains what each one is, but she dutifully heads to the stations and strikes a perfect pose each time.
9:05 a.m.: Achonwa's friend and WNBA peer Chiney Ogwumike is also making the media rounds. Obviously this calls for a selfie. The two take multiple shots.
9:10 a.m.: As her media responsibilities ran long, Achonwa is now already late for her second appearance: a Nike Canada event, roughly 40 minutes away in Vaughan, Ontario. A car is supposed to be waiting for her, but because of traffic, she must wait a few minutes. By the time she gets in the car, she is already almost late for the 9:30 start.
10 a.m.: After making record time on the highway, Achonwa arrives at the Nike Factory Store at Vaughan Mills. After some confusion about which entrance to use, she finds she's missed the first part of the commitment -- a Q-and-A with store employees. All is not lost, however; she has plenty of time before the second part, a talk and photo shoot with kids from the local Boys & Girls Club. But first, she must change into her Nike gear and then compare sneakers with fellow Team Canada player and Boston Celtics star Kelly Olynyk.
10:15 a.m.: Achonwa and Olynyk participate in a moderated conversation about their experiences playing youth basketball, their love for the sport and the importance of academics to a group of about 25 enamored kids. Afterward they help the group pose for Nike-themed posters.
11:05 a.m.: After giving hugs to almost all of the kids, Achonwa changes back into her other clothing and rushes outside with Mario to meet the waiting car. It's time to go back to downtown Toronto for a Basketball Without Borders event.
11:45 a.m.: There's more traffic on the way back, but she uses the time to catch up on her social media feeds and go through photos from the day and the night before. Eventually she arrives at Ryerson University's Mattamy Athletic Centre, where she is instantly whisked upstairs upon arrival. After being introduced to some of the program's leaders, she is given a very brief, unofficial break during which she eats some of the catered mac and cheese. She then changes into yet another outfit, this one from Basketball Without Borders, before going to meet eight of the teenage girls in the program.
12:15 p.m.: Coming from both Canada and various countries in Africa, the girls seemed thrilled by her presence. She helps teach drills and even demonstrates them to those who need help, despite her aching knee.
1:30 p.m.: It's clear how much Achonwa enjoys working with these girls, but she must leave to go to, you guessed it, her next commitment. But fear not -- she will be back with the same group on Sunday for an official Q-and-A. Joined by Mario, who is now carrying three bags of hers, and a representative from the WNBA, she takes an Uber back to her hotel.
1:50 p.m.: Even though she clearly wants to take a nap, Achonwa heads down the street to another hotel for the Nike suite. She is not the only basketball star in attendance. Within moments, she sees Kevin Durant, Jason Collins, Tamika Catchings and Lindsay Whalen. With a meal spread of soups, sandwiches and baked potatoes, she and Mario join her WNBA peers for an impromptu lunch.
2:15 p.m.: There's a ping-pong table -- built to resemble a basketball court -- in the suite, and it doesn't take long for Achonwa and Whalen to make their way over. Despite making vows to not be too competitive, the two play a fierce game and prove just why they're professional athletes.
2:35 p.m.: Achonwa returns to her hotel room to get ready for a WNBA players-only meeting, followed directly by the Celebrity Game.
4 p.m.: The players-only meeting was for, as you might have guessed, players only. I have no idea what occurred there, but it sounds intriguing.
5:30 p.m.: Achonwa and some of her peers head over to the Rioch Center to get ready for the Celebrity Game. The former Notre Dame star won't be playing, but she will be helping coach the Canadian squad, alongside the likes of Drake and Steve Nash. But before the game starts, she finds time to take a selfie with Nash and former Canadian national team star Tammy Sutton-Brown.
8:45 p.m.: Team Canada beats the U.S. celebs, 74-63, and Achonwa celebrates with her teammates and compatriots. This of course includes taking a picture with the Property Brothers.
9:15 p.m.: It's been a long day, but it's not over yet. Up next? The Michael Jordan "Jumpman" brand party -- though she won't stay too long. She has a full day of commitments on Saturday, starting bright and early. Just another day in the life of a WNBA star.