The NBA is finalizing a deal to bring the 2019 All-Star Game to Charlotte.

The 2017 game was scheduled to be played in Charlotte but the NBA moved it to New Orleans following North Carolina's passing of HB2. 

The 2018 All-Star Game will be held in Los Angeles.

“We have decided to award NBA All-Star 2019 to Charlotte based on this deep connection and the belief that we can honor our shared values of equality and inclusion, and we are excited to bring the All-Star Game back to Charlotte for the first time in 28 years," said Adam Silver.

“While we understand the concerns of those who say the repeal of HB2 did not go far enough, we believe the recent legislation eliminates the most egregious aspects of the prior law. Additionally, it allows us to work with the leadership of the Hornets organization to apply a set of equality principles to ensure that every All-Star event will proceed with open access and anti-discrimination policies. All venues, hotels and businesses we work with during All-Star will adhere to these policies as well.

“Sports have a long history of helping to change attitudes around important social issues. We believe holding our All-Star activities in Charlotte will be a powerful way for the NBA to continue this tradition.”

“The NBA’s decision to return to North Carolina while anti-LGBT laws remain on the books is troubling,” Hudson Taylor, the executive director of Athlete Ally, an organization that aims to put an end to homophobia in sports, said on Wednesday.

Kemba Walker underwent a successful minor arthroscopic procedure on his left knee.

Typical recovery time for Walker’s procedure is approximately six weeks.

In his sixth season in Charlotte, Walker appeared in 79 games averaging a career-high 23.2 points, 5.5 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 34.7 minutes per game.  Walker was named to 2017 Eastern Conference All-Star team, the first NBA All-Star appearance of his six-year career.

Walker has appeared in 443 career games (398 starts) for Charlotte averaging 18.4 points, 5.4 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.4 steals in 33.9 minutes per game.  Walker was selected by Charlotte with the ninth overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft.