Members of the Golden State Warriors’ organization have commented on the NBA’s decision to relocate the All-Star Game.
After months of consideration and pressure, the NBA has decided to relocate the 2017 NBA All-Star Game.
The midseason festivities were planned to take place in Charlotte, North Carolina in the Time Warner Cable Arena, but political events and legislation in the state caused Adam Silver and the NBA to act.
In March, the state of North Carolina based legislation that discriminated against the LGBT community, harming protections for that group. More specifically, it impacted the transgender community the most as it imposed on their freedoms.
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The law called for transgender people to use bathrooms and locker rooms that matched their birth gender.
The NBA has become the most socially aware league with everyone from the commissioner to the players understanding their role in impacting social change. They are leaders in society especially compared to the passiveness of the other major North American sports leagues.
All-Star weekend provides a huge economic boost for a community. It’s an honor to host the world’s greatest basketball players. It’s a fantastic opportunity for any city and team.
Silver and the NBA concluded that they couldn’t keep the All-Star Game in Charlotte in light of the state legislation. Instead, they’re relocating it and it looks like New Orleans might be the new host, just a few years after being the spot for the festivities.
Following the announcement, several members of the Warriors organization commented on the situation.
President and CEO Rick Welts, an openly gay man, praised the league’s decision.
The City of Charlotte and the @Hornets are tremendous - here's to 2019.
— Rick Welts (@RickWelts) July 22, 2016
By 2019, he’s referencing the fact that the Hornets are going to submit another bid to host All-Star weekend three years from now.
The Warriors’ new forward, Kevin Durant, also tweeted in response to the news.
I recognize this was a tough decision for the NBA but I respect the choice. Discrimination of any kind cannot be allowed
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) July 22, 2016
Stephen Curry, a Charlotte native, spoke to SportsCenter about his feelings towards the league’s decision. He said:
"It’s disappointing that my hometown won’t be able to host the All-Star Game as they had planned. Obviously I understand Adam Silver’s decision and we’ll see where it ends up. But obviously an unfortunate situation for the city and it is what it is."
Lindsay Czarniak followed up with Curry, asking him to elaborate on what was most disappointing, in his eyes, about the decision. He added:
"Just, I know, how much that would have meant to the city, to be able to host the greatest NBA guys and celebrate the game of basketball. I know the league was in a position where they have to make a decision and Adam Silver has made one and we support that, but at the end of the day I love my city, I love Charlotte, I love everything about it, I love the people there and I really wanted to see the people celebrate the game and it’s unfortunate that they won’t be able to do that."
The Warriors, under Joe Lacob, have become one of the most inclusive teams in the most socially active league.