Basketball - NBA And Players Union Reiterate Support 

New Orleans has the support of the NBA and the NBA players’ association. This support came a day after Billy Hunter, union director, said that he could sue the NBA for wanting to host the All Star game next year in New Orleans.

Hunter had said that if the union was not convinced of New Orleans’ capabilities to host the All Star game next year, it could lead to a litigation between the league and the union. However, Hunter did mention that he was speaking hypothetically and the union would only act if the players’ safety was at risk. He said that he does not foresee any problems and added that the Hornet players were looking forward to returning to the city. Hunter made these comments in response to being asked whether New Orleans was ready to handle this big event after arrests and complaints that Las Vegas had to face during the All Star weekend.

Now, Hunter is all set to fly to New Orleans to check the city out. This would be his first visit to the city after Hurricane Katrina. Hunter is due to meet the city officials and check the accommodation for the players and their guests. Hunter disclosed that he had a number of meeting planned with commissioner David Stern to discuss the plans regarding next year’s All Star game.

The Hornets have spent the last two seasons after Hurricane Katrina in Oklahoma City but they are scheduled to return full time to New Orleans next season. This is the franchise’s way of showing support to the city and the NBA showed its support by announcing that the next year’s All Star game would be held in New Orleans.

In a statement, commissioner Stern said that NBA was looking forward to New Orleans hosting the next All Star event, specially since all the positive reports that NBA had received about the major events and conventions hosted recently in the city.

The All Star event next year would help the city immensely especially after Las Vegas disclosed that this year’s event raised more than $90 million.