Did the NBA Commissioner just hint (again) that the All Star Game will leave North Carolina?
The NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has suggested that the league could still move the 2017 All Star game from Charlotte.
The league previously said it was “deeply concerned” by North Carolina’s recently passed HB2, which rolled back pre-existing LGBT rights protections.
The NBA had previously hinted that it might move the game out of Charlotte, but last week appeared to suggest it would prefer to keep a “presence” in the state.
Commissioner Adam Silver said on ESPN’s Mike & Mike that it is “problematic for [the NBA] to move forward with [the] All Star Game if there is not a change in the law”.
Previously tweeting, the NBA said it was “deeply concerned that this discriminatory law runs counter to our guiding principals of equality and mutual respect and do not know what impact it will have on our ability to successfully host the 2017 All-Star game in Charlotte.”
“It would be easy to say we’re moving it,” Silver said in comments last Friday
“We feel there’s a constructive role for the league to play. If we announce we’re moving it now, what’s the incentive to change the law?”
A fake news story briefly published by some news sources claimed that the NBA had given an ultimatum to North Carolina – to repeal the law or lose the All Star game.
But it was later clarified by the NBA that the quotes attributed to the league were fake.
Hundreds of business leaders have urged the repeal of North Carolina’s HB2, and multiple celebrities have pulled out of appearances, including Ringo Starr and, Bruce Springsteen.
Springsteen was even accused of using “bully tactics” for cancelling the concert by one of the state’s Representatives.
But dozens of celebrities and hundreds of fans came to the defence of Springsteen, commending him for taking a stand.
Others such as Mumford and Sons and Cyndi Lauper have said they will appear but that they will donate their profits to LGBT rights organisations.
Mississippi also faces similar threats as Bryan Adams and Sharon Stone have pulled out of appearances there.
