Sports

Charlotte Hornets to Host NBA All-Star Game in 2017

Published

10 years ago

June 23, 2015

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, left, and Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan, right, pose for a photo during a news conference, Tuesday, June 23, 2015, to announce Charlotte, N.C., as the site of the 2017 NBA All-Star basketball game. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

STEVE REED, AP Sports Writer

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Michael Jordan vowed to restore interest in the Charlotte Hornets when he took over as the franchise’s majority owner in 2010.

That has included bringing the team’s name back to the city and now he has the NBA bringing its All-Star game back to Charlotte.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced at the team’s downtown arena Tuesday that the Hornets will host the league’s annual showcase event in 2017.

It is the first time the game will be played in Charlotte since 1991, when the Hornets were one of the more popular teams in the league and regularly among the NBA leaders in attendance despite limited success in the postseason. Jordan hopes hosting All-Star game will be another step in putting the franchise back on the map.

“It’s a constant process to get back to the top,” Jordan said Tuesday. “At one point this team was on top. And we took a long fall.”

Former Hornets owner George Shinn moved the franchise to New Orleans in 2002 following a bitter breakup with city leaders, leaving Charlotte without an NBA franchise for two seasons. The Charlotte Bobcats joined the league as an expansion team in 2004 under owner Bob Johnson, but the connection between the team and the fans failed to flourish.

Jordan has helped restore some of that interest since purchasing the team five years ago.

It has still been a struggle on the court though, as the franchise has fought through some tough seasons including an all-time NBA worst 7-59 record in 2011-12.

“The events we have gone through the past five years is our passage back to the top,” Jordan said. “It’s been a lot of work. … There are a lot of little things you have to do to get to the top. You don’t get to the top laying around in bed. You got to get out of bed and you have to move in the right direction. I had to crack the whip. I had to keep it going.”

Silver said having Jordan, one of the NBA’s most recognized figures, in Charlotte was one of the draws in bringing the All-Star game here.

“I give him an ‘A’ for all of the things that he is doing in the community,” Silver said. “We wouldn’t be bringing an All-Star game to Charlotte if we didn’t think he was an A-level performer in terms of management of a franchise.”

Silver said Jordan has realized it requires a long-term vision for building a successful franchise and there are no shortcuts.

“Michael understood coming in that, like any other business, you only get out what you put into them,” Silver said. “Michael is still in his rookie era of ownership. It’s like players, you learn a lot over the years.”

Jordan, a 14-time NBA All-Star, played in the last game in Charlotte 24 years ago and called it “an honor to bring the game back to the city.”

“The fans will get a chance to see some of the best athletes in the world,” he said.

The city agreed to pay about $30 million in renovations to the arena when the Hornets submitted their All-Star bid. Silver said he’s pleased with the plans that have been made for renovations, which include upgrading the infrastructure, suites and scoreboard.

“The Charlotte Hornets are a first-class organization in this league,” the commissioner said.

The showcase event of the NBA weekend — scheduled for Feb. 19, 2017 — could be a homecoming for Golden State’s Stephen Curry. The NBA MVP grew up in Charlotte and attended nearby Davidson.

But there could be a bigger draw.

Silver said he would welcome the 52-year-old Jordan to play in a celebrity basketball game during All-Star weekend.

“I think there’s a special commissioner’s exemption for owners who want to participate,” Silver said with a laugh. “I’m sure we can find a space for Michael if he’s interested.”

The game will be carried in more than 200 countries and in 40 different languages. Hornets COO Fred Whitfield estimates the economic impact for the Charlotte community will be around $100 million.

Toronto will host next season’s All-Star game.

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WNBA’s Golden State Valkyries Kick Off Season with Community Programs in Oakland

“The Golden State Valkyries are more than a team—they’re a movement,” said Oakland Interim-Mayor Kevin Jenkins. “Their touchdown in Oakland marks a new era of opportunity, inspiration, and equity in sports. This partnership reflects our city’s deep commitment to uplifting women, investing in youth, and building a community where every dream has a place to grow. We’re proud to welcome the Valkyries to The Town.”

Published

4 days ago

May 18, 2025

Oakland Post

The Valkyries came to Oakland City Hall with a “Hoopbus.” Present were (from left to right): City Councilmembers Noel Gallo, Rebecca Kaplan, Zac Unger and Rowena Brown; Oakland Mayor-elect Barbara Lee, Valkyries President Jess Smith, a Valkyries team representative and Deputy Mayor LaNiece Jones. Photo courtesy Rebecca Kaplan’s office.

Team installs new nets at playgrounds, holds flag-raisings at City Halls in Oakland and S.F.

Special to The Post

The Golden State Valkyries brought the excitement of their inaugural season to every corner of the Bay Area with a full slate of community celebrations leading up to their historic home-opener against the Los Angeles Sparks at the Chase Center in San Francisco on Friday.

The week featured flag-raising ceremonies at city halls in Oakland and San Francisco, three “Violet Net” installation days at Oakland parks to encourage basketball play, fun “Hoopbus” takeovers at multiple schools presented by Kaiser Permanente, and player appearances.

In total, 90 violet nets were installed on 45 basketball courts across 34 public parks throughout Oakland this week. A list of the parks receiving violet nets can be found at Valkyries.com.

About the Golden State Valkyries

The Golden State Valkyries, the WNBA affiliate of the seven-time NBA Champion Golden State Warriors, were announced as the 13th WNBA franchise on Oct. 5, 2023. According to Norse mythology, Valkyries are a host of warrior women who are fearless and unwavering – flying through air and sea alike.

This brand is Golden State’s modern interpretation of Valkyries: strong, bold, and fierce. Tipping off during the 2025 WNBA season, the team is headquartered in Oakland and will play home games at Chase Center in San Francisco. For Golden State Valkyries’ assets, including team logos, visit valkyries.com.

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Activism

McClymonds High Names School Gym for Star Graduate, Basketball Legend Bill Russell

William “Bill” Felton Russell was born on Feb. 12, 1934, and died on July 31, 2022. He achieved fame as a U.S. professional basketball player who played center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1956 to 1969. He was the centerpiece of the Celtics dynasty that won 11 NBA championships during his 13-year career.

Published

3 months ago

February 18, 2025

Oakland Post

Bill Russell and Brian McGhee in McClymonds High School Gym, 2011. Photo courtesy of Brian McGhee.

By Ken Epstein

West Oakland’s McClymonds High School, “the School of Champions,” this week named the school’s gymnasium in honor of one of its most famous graduates, basketball legend Bill Russell (class of ’52).

Russell is widely known as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. In 2011, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country’s highest civil honor, from President Barack Obama for Russell’s contributions to basketball and the Civil Rights Movement.

The McClymonds’ naming ceremony was held on Wednesday, the same day as Russell’s birthday. Oakland leader Bill Patterson, a longtime friend of Russell’s, was scheduled to cut the ribbon at the reopening of the gym, which had been closed for several months for renovation. Russell’s daughter Karen was scheduled to attend the ribbon cutting.

Russell’s name and signature are now printed on the gymnasium floor.

Patterson was working at DeFremery Park when he met Russell. “I befriended him as a boy and during his years at University of San Francisco” said Patterson. “We stayed friends for the rest of his life.”

Said McClymonds Principal Darielle Davis, herself a McClymonds graduate, “We are excited to honor Bill Russell for his sports accolades and because he broke color barriers. He is part of our legacy, and legacy is really important at McClymonds.”

Brian McGhee, community schools manager at McClymonds and former football player at UC Berkeley, said that Russell meant a lot to him and others at the school. “He was a beacon of light and hope for West Oakland,” he said. “He did a lot for sports and for civil rights.”

Starting in 2018, Ben “Coach” Tapscott worked with Patterson and other McClymonds grads, community members, and former coaches to encourage the Oakland Board of Education to endorse the naming of the school gym, which finally happened recently.

“We worked hard to make this happen,” said Tapscott. “He’s an important part of McClymond’s history, along with a lot of other famous graduates,” he said.

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OPINION: Politics, Football and Identity in Trump’s America

If you haven’t noticed, all Americans are engaged in an even bigger game that means so much more than the Super Bowl. Our democracy is falling apart.

Published

3 months ago

February 17, 2025

Oakland Post

iStock.

By Emil Guillermo

Two Filipino American stories made headlines recently.

First, Nikko Remigio, the Filipino and African American kick returner for the Kansas City Chiefs, did not win Super Bowl LIX.

The other, Alameda’s Rob Bonta said no to running for governor. I don’t blame him. It’s not like a mass of people wanted him to run.

But I did.

Whenever there is a Filipino American in a place you don’t expect, I’m rooting for that person.

As California’s Attorney General, Bonta is probably the most active defender among Blue States pushing back against Trump’s Extreme-Right agenda.

I’d like to Bonta run for California’s top job, but he’s better off waiting in line. The Democrats need a spot for Kamala Harris, and Bonta not running obliges the hierarchy.

History can wait. Bonta’s just 52.

Harris has held off speculation of her next move, saying she just moved back to the state. But it seems governor is the path for her.

For now, Bonta needs to continue taking the fight to Trump in the courts.

Football and Identity Politics

My dad, whose birthday would have been Super Bowl weekend, came to the US in 1928 as a colonized Filipino, an “American National,” where he couldn’t be a citizen, vote, own property or even marry the person he wanted.

Not if they were White.

Still, he believed in America. He never gave up.

Sort of like Nikko Remigio.

My dad would have loved Nikko.

If you haven’t noticed, all Americans are engaged in an even bigger game that means so much more than the Super Bowl. Our democracy is falling apart.

You want to get passionate about Eagles and Chiefs?

Let’s be passionate about our Founding Fathers, too.

Nikko didn’t change the game. He touched it three times and provided more yards than all of KC’s running backs.

That’s all I needed to see.

He’s our Filipino guy.

Detractors may call it “identity politics.”

People don’t seem to understand the fight for visibility. To be recognized. To be seen. It’s all wrapped up in the big idea of Civil Rights.

I was nowhere near as good as Nikko when I played. But when you are blessed to play football, you play your hardest.

For me, that was when I was 12 and 13 playing Pop Warner football in San Francisco. I was MVP for my team as a running back.

But I was ashamed of my dad. He wasn’t like the other dads. And I remember going to the team banquet to retrieve my trophy alone.

I didn’t realize it probably meant more to him than I thought.

I wish I had shared my MVP moment with him like Nikko shared his joy with his dad, Mark, born in Seattle to two Filipino immigrants, and his mom, whose mixture of Black and White made Nikko the picture of diversity.

Filipino American and Black and White at the Super Bowl.

But don’t forget, there is one game bigger.

The Super Bowl for Democracy. We’re battling for it every day Trump pushes a cockamamie idea that shakes the foundation of our Democracy.

About the Author

Emil Guillermo is an award-winning journalist and commentator. Watch his micro-talk show “Emil Amok’s Takeout/What Does an Asian American Think?” on www.YouTube.com/emilamok1 Or join him on http://www.patreon.com/emilamok