The NBA and the National Association of Basketball Players are discussing the possibility of holding a All-Star Game in early March, with Atlanta emerging as the likely venue, sources told ESPN.
The traditional All-Star Weekend (scheduled for Indianapolis in February) was canceled due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, but sources tell ESPN that there are ongoing talks with the league and union about a match of the 7th. March in Atlanta that would be a long way off – Reduced version of the typical Star Weekend festivities, sources said.
The NBA has a mid-season break scheduled for March 5-10.
NBPA President Chris Paul of the Phoenix Suns has been a proponent of the idea, which would include historically showing and benefiting black colleges and universities and COVID-19 relief funds, sources said. Both the Atlanta Hawks State Farm Arena gyms and the Atlanta-based HBCU campus gyms are under consideration to host a potential game, sources said.
Atlanta is home to Turner Sports, which could televise the game without its crew having to travel out of town. Even a game without fans – or with scant and socially distanced attendance – would still require a major commute for players, support staff and league officials to the teeth of the pandemic. Typical hosting of corporate sponsors, a significant financial component of normal All-Star weekends, would not be possible.
The talks focus on a naked All-Star game scenario that would be largely game-focused, with few fan-related experiences, if any, surrounding him, sources said.
The NBA has postponed 21 games of the regular season that will need to be recovered this season. The NBA awarded Indianapolis All-Star Weekend 2024 to replace the loss of the event in 2021.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst contributed to this report.