ORLANDO, Fla. — The NBA All-Star game is getting another Magic infusion.
Twenty years after hosting one of the most memorable moments in its history, the league’s All-Star game and weeklong festivities will return to Orlando in 2012 at the Magic’s new arena, NBA commissioner David Stern announced Tuesday.
Orlando also held the All-Star game in 1992, when Magic Johnson returned to basketball to win the Most Valuable Player award after his stunning retirement and acknowledgment he was HIV positive.
“It was an extraordinary and emotional time,” Stern said. “To be able to hug him in front of a global audience and congratulate him, it was extraordinary.”
The NBA clearly likes to take its midwinter break in sunshine.
Phoenix had the All-Star game last year, Dallas was this season’s host — even though there was a large snowfall — and Los Angeles gets the game a record fifth time in 2011. New Orleans, Las Vegas and Houston had the game before that.
Stern stopped short of saying the All-Star game could be in a regular rotation, but he said warm-weather sites in major tourist destinations appeal to the NBA’s owners and international broadcasters.
“I’m not making any promises,” Stern said. “Although I can tell you that the owners have sort of expressed, not quite directly, but indicated that warm weather is appealing to them.”
One place the game doesn’t appear headed anytime soon is overseas.
There had been talk of holding the game in Europe, perhaps in London ahead of the 2012 Olympics. Stern said that was “just talk,” and nothing more.
“Some of the players come up to me and say, ‘Let’s go to London.’ They don’t know how difficult it is to mount something,” Stern said. “I think this game is staying domestic for quite a few more years.”
Stern had long promised to bring the marquee game to the soon-to-be-complete Amway Center, which opens next season. He toured the new arena — hard hat, fluorescent vest and all — just before making the announcement.
The only thing that could deter the excitement is a potential lockout in the 2011-12 season.
The NBA’s collective bargaining agreement expires after next season. Stern wouldn’t say exactly what would happen with the All-Star game should there be a work stoppage.
“Once a game is in the rotation, it’s in the rotation,” he said. “We’re coming to Orlando for an All-Star game.”
Topping the excitement of the last All-Star game in Orlando could be tough.
Even though he hadn’t played all season, Johnson drew more votes than any player for the West team in the 1992 game. He chose to honor fans’ wishes by playing.
Johnson’s showdowns with Isiah Thomas and Michael Jordan stirred the crowd, drawing tears from fans in a night filled with emotions. Johnson had 25 points and nine assists to help the West roll to a 153-113 victory.
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