Atlanta is in “serious conversation” to host this year’s NBA All-Star game, a Hawks team source with knowledge of the situation confirmed to the AJC.
The Hawks have discussed with the NBA the possibility of hosting the game March 7 at State Farm Arena, though nothing is final.
ESPN first reported that the NBA and Players Association were discussing an All-Star game potentially hosted by Atlanta, with Adrian Wojnarowski reporting that this would include “the showcasing and benefiting of historically Black colleges and universities and COVID-19 relief funds.”
There’s also the possibility that Atlanta-based HBCU campus gyms would host the game, per ESPN, and that Turner Sports being local and able to televise the game without traveling is a factor.
As of now, the NBA has only released the first half of its schedule, through March 4, with the second half of the schedule (March 11-May 16) to be released toward the end of the first half.
The original plans for this season’s All-Star game in Indianapolis were canceled in November due to COVID-19.
