Spotlight on Cleveland as host of 2022 All-Star game at Quicken Loans
The NBA’s spotlight faded from Cleveland last summer. It will shine brilliantly again in four years.
After numerous “passionate” discussions between the team and league, Commissioner Adam Silver announced Thursday that the Cavaliers will host the 2022 All-Star Game at Quicken Loans Arena.
The Cavaliers are thrilled to host the event, which will coincide with the league’s 75th anniversary. Cleveland previously hosted the AllStar Game in 1997, when the league honored its Top 50 players.
It’s a major coup for the Cavaliers, who lost superstar LeBron James as a free agent in July and are facing a long road back to championship contention.
The Cavaliers had submitted bids to host earlier All-Star Games, but their downtown arena is undergoing a massive renovation and wasn’t going to be ready until summer 2019.
Silver said the renovations played a major role in the city being awarded the game and its other activities which could have a direct $100 million impact on Cleveland.
More Cavaliers
Guard J.R. Smith wants to be traded. Smith has been dropped from Cleveland’s rotation and would prefer to go to a team that would use him. Smith has not formally requested a trade, but said the front office knows how he feels. Smith is one of three players left from Cleveland’s 2016 title team. Cleveland is rebuilding and fired coach Tyronn Lue Sunday.
Wizards
Dwight Howard is scheduled to make his Washington debut against the Oklahoma City Thunder Friday. Wizards coach Scott Brooks said his team’s new center practiced Thursday and will start against visiting Oklahoma City. Howard missed all of training camp, the preseason and the first seven games of the regular season because of a sore backside.
Timberwolves
Minnesota will pay tribute to Prince with a purple-highlighted uniform. The team unveiled Prince-inspired City Edition uniforms Thursday. The uniforms were a collaboration between the Timberwolves, Nike and the Prince estate. Prince family members said the “Purple Rain” superstar enjoyed basketball both as a player and a fan.