NBA All-Star Game Guide

Start: 8:30 p.m. ET.

Where to watch: TSN/Sportsnet/TNT

For the first time in its 65-year run, the NBA All-Star Game will make its way across the border as the league's biggest and brightest stars take the Air Canada Centre hardwood in Toronto on Sunday.

This year's event holds extra significance not only because it's being contested outside of the United States for the first time, but also because it will feature the 18th and final All-Star appearance of "The Black Mamba," Kobe Bryant, who's officially retiring from the Los Angeles Lakers at the end of the season.

Related: The best of Kobe Bryant at All-Star Media Day

There's more to take in Sunday than just Bryant's ongoing farewell tour, though. The host city will have two of its own represented with the Raptors' backcourt of Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan, who should receive a raucous reception from the hometown crowd. Bitter rivals will be forced to work together, former teammates will join forces once again, and four players will enter the All-Star fraternity as they make their debuts in the annual exhibition.

Eastern Conference Roster

Coach: Tyronn Lue, Cleveland Cavaliers

Western Conference Roster

Coach: Gregg Popovich, San Antonio Spurs

Related: LaVine-Gordon Slam Dunk duel caps off entertaining All-Star Saturday Night

All-Star Game MVP contenders

Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers

Currently tied with Bob Pettit for the most All-Star Game MVP titles at four, adding one more to put himself over the top would help cement Bryant's All-Star legacy.

The issue, however, is that the 37-year-old may not be on the court long enough to warrant the honor. Following the Lakers' final game before the break, Bryant mentioned he was feeling "horrible," adding that his shoulder, ankles, and everything in between were giving him discomfort. Don't hold your breath for a 30-minute outing from the five-time champion.

Fans will have a say in who walks away with MVP through social media. As such a beloved figure, Bryant will, in all likelihood, rake in a majority of votes regardless of what his box score looks like.

LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers

If LeBron James ends Sunday with four more points than Bryant, he will leap the Lakers legend and become the All-Star Game's all-time leading scorer.

"The King" may still be the best player going today, yet on All-Star weekend, he's overshadowed by a number of his colleagues.

"I remember when I was a youngster, I was in the 10th or 11th grade, and it was MJ's (Michael Jordan's) last All-Star Game, so it kind of has that same kind of feeling," James said Friday, according to the Toronto Star's Doug Smith.

Only once in 11 All-Star Games has James failed to record 18 or more points, so he'll be a heavy favorite - should the East win - based on his numbers alone. His side has far fewer domineering ball-handlers than the West, giving him ample opportunity to take over.

Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors

It's touching to hear that Stephen Curry's willing to feed Bryant and give him all the shot attempts he wants, but at the end of the day ... shooters gonna shoot.

Curry takes ridiculous shots during regular-season outings, so imagine where he'll spot up from during the All-Star Game with his 45.4 3-point percentage. The half-court line, perhaps? Why not?

The Warriors are the defending champions and Curry is the reigning league MVP. Curry and his team have been on a tear through 52 games, and he may seek to remind everyone who the head honcho is around these parts - unless his respect for Bryant gets in the way.

Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder

One measly point kept Russell Westbrook from tying the record for most points in an All-Star Game last year in Texas when he dropped 41 on 16-of-28 shooting.

Considering the competitive animosity between the Warriors and Thunder, and the fact Westbrook and Curry will start together in the backcourt, some part of the UCLA alumnus must be looking to outperform and outclass his running mate Sunday.

A motivated Westbrook with the eyes of the basketball world watching his every move could mean bad things for the East.

There have been three triple-doubles in All-Star Game history, the last coming in 2012 from Dwyane Wade. Could a fourth be on the horizon from the NBA's second-ranked triple-double king?

Predictions

Dunks will be plentiful, 3-pointers will rain down, and defense will be nonexistent .... right up until the fourth quarter, when both sides elect to put forward a little extra effort to help take home bragging rights for their respective conference.

The West has won four of the last five All-Star Games, but each of the victories came by five points or fewer, so picking a winner really is a toss-up. Very rarely does one squad tower over the other on the scoreboard.

Four of the top five scorers in the league (Curry, James Harden, Kevin Durant, and DeMarcus Cousins) reside in the West, which seems like an advantage, but everyone looks like a million bucks on offense when no one is defending.

With the magic surrounding Bryant's last All-Star Game, the leeway for Curry to take as many shots as he desires, and the dominant one-two punch of the Thunder's dynamic duo, the boys from out West will add another notch to their belt by defeating the East once more.

Final score: West 158, East 151

Most Valuable Player: Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors