Breaking: NBA Commissioner Says Change in Anti-LGBT Law ‘Necessary’ for All-Star Game to Stay in NC

Commissioner Says North Carolina Lawmakers ‘Know What’s at Stake’

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver says North Carolina must change its anti-LGBT law HB2 in order for the 2017 All-Star game to remain in Charlotte. His comments are stronger and come one week after saying there had been no discussion among the NBA’s board of governors, angering equality supporters. 

“We’ve been, I think, crystal clear a change in the law is necessary for us to play in the kind of environment that we think is appropriate for a celebratory NBA event,” Commissioner Silver said at the Associated Press Sports Editors’ (ASPE) meetings Thursday, the Charlotte Observer reports.

Speaking on ESPN radio (audio), Silver seemed to reveal a bit of his strategy, saying that local businesses and governments “know what’s at stake in terms of the All-Star Game. But at least at the moment, constructive engagement on our part is the best way to go as opposed to putting a gun to their head and saying ‘do this or else,’” the Observer reports Silver saying.

“What’s most important to this league is that there be a change in the law. It’d be easy to make a statement, but I can’t cut and run here,” he added, noting that the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets are based in North Carolina. Last week he made the same reference, saying it would be impossible to totally boycott the state given there’s an NBA franchise based there.

The All-Star game could be worth $100 million to the state’s economy. 

 

EARLIER:

NBA Clarifies Position On Charlotte All-Star Game, Commissioner Clarifies League Won’t Intervene

NBA Commissioner: No Plans To Move All-Star Game Out Of North Carolina Despite Anti-LGBT Law

 

Image of Adam Silver via Facebook 
Image of All-Star game logo via Wikimedia