The NBA All-Star Game may not exactly be the exciting event it was in the 1980s and 1990s, but it is still something that teams and cities don’t exactly mind hosting.
While the Phoenix Suns have been underperforming this season, at least relative to the lofty expectations some had for them, they did score a big victory on Thursday.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver announced that the 2027 All-Star game will be held at the Footprint Center, the home arena for the Suns.
"It is my honor to announce the 2027 NBA All-Star Game will be here at the Footprint Center…Just a wonderful place to be and wonderful location for sports." – @NBA Commissioner Adam Silver pic.twitter.com/hFYo0vjgGB
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) March 7, 2024
The Suns have been under new ownership after Mat Ishbia, the billionaire CEO of United Wholesale Mortgage, purchased them last February from Robert Sarver, who had been embroiled in controversy.
They underwent wholesale changes starting last February, as they traded for Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal while giving up a warehouse full of draft capital, not to mention wing Mikal Bridges, who has since emerged as a borderline star with the Brooklyn Nets.
While Phoenix has more depth than some anticipated, they currently only hold a 36-26 record, which puts them in sixth place in the Western Conference.
Coming into this season, many felt they would be championship contenders, and some even picked them to reach the NBA Finals.
The Suns have never won it all since entering the league in the 1968-69 season — they have reached the championship series three times, including in 2021, only to lose each time.
Given all the draft picks they surrendered and the fact that Durant is 35 years of age, there is a tremendous amount of pressure on them right now to win the world championship.
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