On Tuesday, NBA commissioner Adam Silver joined with AEG president and CEO Dan Beckerman, LA mayor Eric Garcetti and LA Sports and Entertainment Commission president Kathy Schloessman to announce that Los Angeles and Staples Center will host the 2018 NBA All-Star Game.
"It is my honor to announce that the 2018 NBA All-Star Game will here in Los Angeles at the Staples Center," Silver said.
The official announcement took place prior to the Los Angeles Lakers taking on the Memphis Grizzlies. Staples Center hosted the All-Star Game twice before, in 2011 and in 2004. Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers won the NBA All-Star M.V.P. in 2011 and, similarly, Shaquille O'Neal of the Los Angeles Lakers won the M.V.P. award in 2004.
As was the case on the two previous occasions, both the LA Lakers and LA Clippers will serve as joint-hosts since both teams share tenancy in the building and reside in the same city.
"We believe that with Staples Center, Los Angeles Convention Center and the L.A. Live campus, we have the ideal platform to showcase the NBA to the great fans in Los Angeles," Beckerman said.
Prior to 2004, LA had last hosted the NBA All-Star Game in 1963 at the LA Sports Arena, though the exhibition contest had come to Inglewood at the Forum in 1983 and 1972. Jerry West of the Los Angeles Lakers won the M.V.P. award in 1972, so three of the five M.V.P. awards have gone to Lakers' players, and the Lakers' representative in the event should have a decided hometown edge.
"We couldn't be more excited to see the All-Star Game coming back," Garcetti said. "Let's think, it's 2004, 2011 and now 2018: We might just have to move it here permenantly."
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Along with the 2018 NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, All-Star Weekend consists of a celebrity game and a rising stars game on Friday night. All-Star Saturday features a skills challenge, the three-point contest, and the slam dunk contest.
Garcetti added, "We love, love, love out basketball here in LA."
