(Photo By Flickr User Glorius Gaduang)
“Hi-di-hayyyy, baby don’t you wanna go? Back to the All-Star Game, in Sweet Old Chicago!”
The NBA has announced that Chicago has been selected to host NBA All-Star 2020. The 69th annual game will take place at the United Center, home of the six-time NBA champion Chicago Bulls, on Sunday, Feburary 16, 2020. This will mark the third NBA All-Star in Chicago, which held the annual celebration in 1973 and 1988.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver made the announcement during a press conference at the United Center. He was joined by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Bulls President and Chief Operating Officer Michael Reinsdorf, Bulls Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations John Paxson, Alderman Walter Burnett Jr. (27th Ward) and Chicago Sports Commission Executive Director Kara Bachman.
Commissioner Silver said,
“Chicago is an iconic city with a storied basketball history. We are thrilled to bring the NBA All-Star Game back. We thank Mayor Emanuel, Jerry and Michael Reinsdorf, and the entire Bulls organization and look forward to an exciting week of activities celebrating the game of basketball.”
In addition to the All-Star Game, the United Center will be the venue for the Rising Stars Challenge – an annual showcase for top rookies and second-year players – on Friday, February 14, 2018, as well as State Farm All-Star Saturday Night, which features the Taco Bell Skills Challenge, the JBL Three-Point Contest and the Verizon Slam Dunk. In 2020, TNT will be televising the All-Star Game in prime time for the 18th consecutive year, marking Turner Sports’ 35th year of All-Star coverage.
NBA ALL-STAR HISTORY IN CHICAGO
Chicago last hosted NBA All-Star in 1988, when the Bulls’ Michael Jordan electrified his hometown crowd at Chicago Stadium. He outdueled the Atlanta Hawks’ Dominique Wilkins to win a spectacular Slam Dunk Contest, and the next day Jordan scored 40 points to earn MVP honors in the Eastern Conference’s 138-133 victory over the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. The weekend also featured a third consecutive Three-Point Contest title for the Boston Celtics’ Larry Bird, who famously raised a finger in the air in celebration before his final, competition-clinching shot dropped through the net.
During the Windy City’s debut as NBA All-Star host, the East defeated the West 104-84 in the 1973 midseason classic at Chicago Stadium. Boston’s Dave Cowens was named MVP after leading the East with 15 points and 13 rebounds. Los Angeles Lakers teammates Wilt Chamberlain and Jerry West, who combined for 27 All-Star selections, each appeared in an All-Star Game for the last time.
Chicago will follow Los Angeles, CA in 2018 and Charlotte, NC in 2019 as All-Star host. NBA All-Star Game 2017 in New Orleans, LA reached fans in 215 countries and territories in 49 languages.
(Information courtesy of nba.com)
