L.A. will bid to host 2025 NBA All-Star Game

NBA All-Star Weekend could be returning to Los Angeles in 2025.

Feb 20

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1. L.A. will bid to host 2025 NBA All-Star Game

NBA All-Star Weekend could be returning to Los Angeles in 2025. In an exclusive interview with The Sporting Tribune, Lee Zeidman, the president of Crypto.com Arena, Microsoft Theater and L.A. Live, said Crypto.com Arena will bid to host the NBA All-Star Game in 2025. The arena has hosted it every seven years since announcing its former name (Staples Center) in 1997 – 2004, 2011, 2018 and now possibly 2025.

“We plan on submitting a bid when advised by the NBA that the bid process is open for 2025,” Zeidman told The Sporting Tribune. “And we would love to host in 2025, making it every seven years since 2004. Our renovations will be complete and our long and successful history of hosting three NBA All-Star weekends at L.A. Live as well as other major events coupled with our strong working relationships with the Los Angeles Sports and Entertainment Commission and the City of Los Angeles, we would hope position AEG as a strong contender for the bid.”

2. NBA expansion lines up nicely for LeBron’s Vegas dream

NBA commissioner Adam Silver said the league will “invariably” think about expansion after coming to terms on a new CBA and a new national media rights contract in 2025. That means it may be only a matter of time before the NBA begins the process of looking to put expansion teams in Las Vegas and Seattle after the 2024-2025 season. The timing makes sense and lines up perfectly for a storybook end to LeBron James’ career as he transitions into his post playing career aspirations.

LeBron James, who became the NBA’s all-time leading scorer last week, signed a two-year contract extension with the Lakers before this season that will take him through the 2024-2025 season and his 40th birthday. He has said he would like to be on the same NBA floor with his oldest son, Bronny, before he retires. Bronny, who is a senior at Sierra Canyon High School, is projected to be selected in the 2024 NBA Draft. Crypto.com Arena, the home of the Lakers, is actively pursuing hosting the 2025 NBA All-Star Game in Los Angeles, which would be James’ last if he decides to retire at the end of the 2024-2025 season. When he does retire, James has been very public about wanting to be part of the ownership group that brings an NBA team to Las Vegas.

3. Lakers great Pau Gasol named Hall of Fame finalist

Pau Gasol was announced as a finalist for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame during NBA All-Star Weekend, less than three weeks before he will get his jersey retired by the Los Angeles Lakers.

When asked how he would like to be remembered as a player, Gasol said, “I played the right way. I played hard and competed and played to win. I was a player that made the right decisions on the court and tried to make my teammates better. I didn’t care about scoring points. I just cared about making the right play and giving myself and the team the best chance to win.”

4. Cantlay’s patience leads him to No. 3 finish in his hometown

Riviera is a challenging course for many professional golfers. From unfamiliar surfaces such as the Kikuyu rough and poa greens to a 240-yard par three, a round there is bound to be tricky. Even occasionally, professional golfers hit shots that make them look like amateurs. World Golf Ranking No. 5 Patrick Cantlay enjoys the conditions, though. The Long Beach native and UCLA graduate has played Riviera many times and has learned how to feel at ease on the course. The Sporting Tribune’s Kamran Nia has more from the Genesis Invitational.

When Cantlay was near the top of the leaderboard Sunday morning, he was hoping to pick up a birdie on the first hole, and he did just that. Then, he saved par on the second hole with a pretty bunker shot. Through the next few holes, Cantlay stayed bogey-free. Then, he caught fire on the par three sixth hole, where his approach shot landed behind the pin and trickled back, setting him up for a birdie. His early momentum carried throughout the day as he scored three birdies on the following five holes.

5. A’s lobbying for a new home in Las Vegas

With registered lobbyists on board, including A’s team president David Kaval, the Athletics are ramping up efforts to be able to move from Oakland to Las Vegas. The Sporting Tribune’s Steve Carp believes it’s only a matter of time before the Athletics are playing in Las Vegas.

I think the A’s are serious about leaving Oakland for Las Vegas. And for the first time, I’m starting to believe they are coming here. The struggling Major League Baseball franchise has not been able to close a deal to remain in Oakland. Instead, it has put together a lineup of lobbyists with team president David Kaval batting leadoff, to convince Nevada politicians that it is in the state’s best interests to groove a pitch down the middle so the A’s can knock it out of the park (literally) with a $1 billion stadium somewhere in Las Vegas.

6. Raiders’ best option at QB isn’t Aaron Rodgers

The Raiders will have options at quarterback next season, including Aaron Rodgers, but the best one may already be on their roster, according to The Sporing Tribune’s W.G. Ramirez.

Jarrett Stidham has been under Josh McDaniels’ watch all three years of his career, learning the system in both Foxborough and Las Vegas. In five appearances for Las Vegas, including two starts, he completed 53 of 83 (63.9%) pass attempts, threw four interceptions versus three interceptions. And oh by the way, Stidham faced San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City, who could’ve very easily played one another in the Super Bowl had 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy not gotten injured in the first quarter of the NFC Championship.

7. Odds and Ends presented by Circa Sports

Here are some odds at Circa Sports if you’re thinking about placing a wager today:

8. Ticket Time presented by TickPick

Here are the “get in” prices for tickets if you’re thinking about going to a game this week:

Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Lakers: $219

9. On the Air presented by Coca-Cola

Here are the game times and television channels for professional teams in the region today:

10:00 a.m. – Anaheim Ducks at Florida Panthers – Bally Sports SoCal

10. The Arash Markazi Show presented by The Sporting Tribune

On Friday’s show, hall of famer photographer Andrew Bernstein joined to talk about NBA All-Star Weekend and his conversation with Mavericks great Rolando Blackman.

Listen to The Arash Markazi Show presented by The Sporting Tribune on The Mightier 1090 ESPN Radio in Southern California, 98.5 The Fan in Las Vegas and the Hawaii Sports Radio Network 95.1 FM and 760 AM in Hawaii. You can also listen to the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Play and Stitcher.

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That’s it for today. Talk to you tomorrow!