I had heard these rumors at this year’s All-Star Game in Toronto. Sam Amick of the USA Today heard the same thing from sources reliable enough to report.
Now comes the news that Tuesday the NBA, Los Angeles officials, and Staples Center officials are hosting a press conference to announce “big news.” That can only mean one thing:
The 2018 NBA All-Star Game is coming to Los Angeles.
Staples Center, home to the Lakers and Clippers, hosted the All-Star game last in 2011. You might remember that best as the year Blake Griffin dunked over a Kia (but JaVale McGee should have won that Dunk Contest).
The NBA has taken a little heat for having the last couple games in cold-weather cities in February — New York in 2015 and Toronto this year both had cold snaps during All-Star weekend. In 2017, the All-Star Game heads to Charlotte — home of Stephen Curry. Oh, and Michael Jordan’s Hornets.
The NBA clearly wanted warm weather for 2018. There are rumors that Cleveland and Brooklyn both want to host again soon, but neither are warm weather cities. Also, both Sacramento next season and San Francisco in a few will open new arenas and likely will get in the All-Star bidding process.
But 2018 will be in Los Angeles. That becomes official Tuesday.