The Toronto Raptors landed the 2016 NBA all-star weekend, but it wasn’t 2015 all-star Kyle Lowry or 2014 mid-season participant DeMar DeRozan trotted out to hype the unveiling of the weekend’s logo on Wednesday.

Instead, it was young Andrew Wiggins, the apple of both Canada Basketball and the Raptors’ eyes.

Wiggins, property of the Minnesota Timberwolves, who no doubt made sure Masai Ujiri and Drake were kept far away from Wednesday’s proceedings, won’t be a Raptor for many years to come (if ever), but he will be a major part of the spectacle when the NBA’s best and brightest gather here in early 2016.

He could be in the slam dunk contest, or the Rising Stars Challenge, but where he really wants to be, is in the main event itself, the Sunday all-star game.

“It definitely is a goal of mine and every year I’m in the NBA it will be a goal of mine,” Wiggins said at the base of the CN Tower, which is a featured part of the logo.

“It’s probably the biggest thing you can accomplish, is to be an all-star.”

But he knows it is rare for a second-year player to participate.

“Definitely not (easy),” Wiggins said. “I’ll have to put in a lot of work to be up there and trying to make the game.”

Most players don’t get to spend much time in Toronto, because they fly in and out quickly, with a game in between, but Wiggins thinks the weekend will do a lot for the city’s reputation.

“I think it will change the perception for a lot of people. Especially people that don’t really get a chance to wander around and go places,” he said.

“They’ll be here for three, four, five days, so they’ll get a chance to see what Toronto is all about ... I think they’ll love it (there’s) a lot of stuff to do around here. Great people, great atmosphere.”

And he also believes Canadian fans will get a lot out of the event, which will celebrate the 125th anniversary of the birth of basketball by Canuck Dr. James Naismith.

“This is a huge opportunity for all the fans, all the people in Canada to get a closer look. I had my first one last year (he was the MVP of the Rising Stars Challenge in New York City) and unless you’re there to witness it, you don’t understand what it’s about.”

Toronto Tourism executive vice-president and chief marketing officer Andrew Weir said landing the all-star game will be a major boon for the city.

“This is about as big of a win as there could be when you think about the all-star game itself, the fan-fest, the skills event and all the other events that happen around that time,” Weir said.

“This is important business for our restaurants, our hotels, other businesses, especially because it is in February, a need-time for our businesses.

“The impact goes beyond the people that will come visit us come February. This is a global, cultural event and for a period of time in February, Toronto will be squarely in global pop culture, squarely in the centre of that. That’s important as we develop a reputation as a place that big things happen over the long term.”

Outgoing Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment president/CEO Tim Leiweke had made landing the event a huge part of his mandate and delivered.

He understandably sounds thrilled about what is to come.

“When you take a step back and look at the progress that our league and our sport has made in Canada, it is extraordinary to see where basketball is and the platform that it has achieved and the many great players that have come out (of Canada) and are now a part of the NBA,” Leiweke said.

“To have the 2016 NBA All-Star Game, the 65th all-star game and the first ever to leave the United States, first international all-star game in the history of the NBA ... Over the next 14 months that will put this city, our community on a world stage. Fans from all over the world will descend upon Toronto, making this the Mecca of basketball, not just for Canada, not just for North America, but the world.”

WIGGINS KEEPING HIS PLANS TO HIMSELF

As is his custom, Andrew Wiggins is keeping his future plans close to the vest.

For once at a Wiggins in Toronto appearance, nobody asked the NBA’s top rookie about years down the line considerations like if he’ll be a Raptor one day, but there was plenty of talk about his next nine months.

Such as: Will he suit up for Canada for July’s Toronto Pan Am Games, or just play for his country in the more crucial Olympic qualifying tournament in Mexico later in the summer?

“As I get closer, as it gets closer and closer,” Wiggins said of making that decision.

Though he played in all 82 contests for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Wiggins says he is physically fine and itching to get back on the court.

Will he participate in the NBA’s slam dunk contest at the 2016 All-Star weekend in Toronto next February?

“It’s too far away to think about it really,” said a laughing Wiggins.

“I think people will want to see it (him dunking), but I’ve just got to do what’s best for me, do what I do.”

Wiggins was thrilled that his Wolves won the draft lottery, but didn’t take the bait when asked who he would select.

“Who I would choose? I don’t know who I would choose,” said the ever-cautious 20-year-old.

Either way, he’ll be happy.

“We get a chance to win big. We get a chance to choose whoever we want to choose,” he said, adding that playing with potential top pick Karl-Anthony Towns in an all-star game a few years ago was a fun experience.

“I enjoyed it, he’s a great guy,” Wiggins said.

Wiggins, traded by the Cleveland Cavaliers to Minnesota before ever playing a game for the Cavs, doesn’t seem to have any hard feelings.

He said he is excited for friend and fellow Canadian Tristan Thompson, who will get his first taste of NBA Finals action next week.

“Oh definitely, I’m rooting for him. I want the best. He’s been killing lately, he’s been a force on the glass for them (and) at the defensive end.”

But Wiggins won’t play what-if now that Cleveland is four wins away from a championship. He’s happy where he is.

“It definitely does (feel like he ended up in the right place in Minnesota),” he said.

“We’ve got a young core and now the first draft pick is going to make the core even stronger, even better.”