NBA great Paul Pierce calls for All Star game in Melbourne

NBA champion and Finals MVP Paul Pierce wants the star-studded All-Star weekend to come to Melbourne, which would see the likes of Ben Simmons, LeBron James and Steph Curry play down under.

US basketball great Paul Pierce has called for the NBA All-Star game to be staged in Melbourne and vowed to take his pitch to the top in a bid to make it happen.

The former Boston Celtics superstar said the annual NBA showpiece featuring the best players in the world should be taken on a global tour, starting in Melbourne.

“I think what the NBA should do — they should bring the All-Star game here,’’ he told the Sunday Herald Sun.

“And I think the All-Star game should be done around the world … I think it shouldn’t just be regulated to the States.

“I think it should be one year in Australia, one year in London, one year in China, one year in India.

“I think it should move around the world because of the popularity, the game is so big why can’t we share this with the rest of the world?’’

Ben Simmons starred in the 2019 NBA All-Star game along with fellow superstars of the game.

The three-point contest is a highlight of the event, along with the slam dunk contest and skills challenge.

Players such as Kevin Durant (left) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (right) would likely come to Melbourne to play in the event.

All-Star weekend brings the NBA’s elite such as LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Giannis Antetokounmpo together each year for a match, slam dunk contest and three point shoot out.

Staged in a different US city each year, past All-Star MVP winners include legends Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant.

But — with a record 13 Australians on NBA rosters last season — 10-time All Star Pierce said the NBA should now take the show on the road.

“You’ve got the rest of the world coming to the NBA — this is a way to give back to the rest of the world,’’ he said.

NBA champion and Finals MVP Pierce said the fact NBA matches had already been staged in the likes of London, Hawaii, China set a precedent to bring “a week-long party surrounded by an All-Star game’’ to Australia.

Some of the greatest ever basketballers have participated in the event, including Michael Jordan (left) and Kobe Bryant (right).

And recent record breaking games between Australia and the US that drew more than 100,000 to Marvel Stadium meant Melbourne was the perfect place to make NBA All Star history outside the US.

“You put it on in that arena, with 100,000, you know the revenue that could build for the city, for exposure it gives to the game,’’ he said.

“It would be insane.

“If I was (NBA) commissioner this would already be on my desk, about the possibilities of taking the All-Star game around the world.’’

The State Government established a strong relationship with NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum when he attended the Team USA-Boomers games in August.

Sports Minister Martin Pakula said Melbourne’s infrastructure on the doorstep of the city made it the perfect place for the NBA All Star Game.

“The fact is there are very few places on earth with the capacity to put on a big sporting event as well as we can,” he said.

“And the thing about Victorians - we show up.

“Over 100,000 to the two Australia v USA games and nearly 60,000 to the UFC last week.

“So if the NBA want to bring the All Star Game here, we can promise them a brilliant event and a packed stadium”

Marvel Stadium chief executive Michael Green said the AFL-owned venue would jump at the chance to make history.

“We are always excited to host international sporting events so we would welcome the opportunity to have basketball back at Marvel Stadium,’’ he said.

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A Melbourne NBA All-Star game would undoubtedly lure big crowds from the US, Asia and interstate, pumping millions of dollars into the economy and further strengthening the state’s event reputation.

Pierce, an NBA analyst for ESPN, said he would lobby NBA commissioner Adam Silver to bring All Star weekend to Australia and the world.

“This is something I’m going to bring up with the commissioner this year, use my platform with ESPN,’’ he said.

“This will come out this year, you will see.’’

Melbourne’s Ben Simmons this year became the first Australian selected for the All Star Game, decided by votes by fans, players and media.

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Originally published as NBA great Paul Pierce calls for All Star game in Melbourne