NBA Commissioner Adam Silver continued to make it clear on Thursday that if a North Carolina state law regarding LGBT rights isn’t modified, the 2017 All-Star weekend will be removed from Charlotte. Although he hasn’t set a deadline for this decision, he is continuing to apply pressure on legislators.
“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,” Silver said at the Associated Press Sports Editors’ commissioner meetings.
“But that we did have some time and that if view of the people who were allied with us in terms of a change … the people on the ground in North Carolina, was that the situation would best be served by us not setting a deadline, we would not set a deadline at this time.”
The law in question is House Bill 2, or the Public Facilities Privacy and Security Act, which was signed into law by Republican governor Pat McCrory in March. The legislation has suffered major backlash for what is believed to be discrimination against transgender people, and major corporate entities and celebrities have spoken out against the bill.
Previously, Bruce Springsteen cancelled concerts in North Carolina.
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“They 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,'” Silver added.
Similar pressure has worked in the past. In 2015, Indiana amended a similar law after the NCAA and other major organizations expressed concern. Silver has made it clear that he is not setting an ultimatum on the issue.
The weekend is scheduled for Feb. 17-19 in 2017, and such a decision would require several months of preparation in advance.
That timeline leaves some space for the NBA and other organizations to continue conversations with state legislators. The immediate question for Silver, instead, involves an upcoming playoff game hosted by the Hornets on Saturday.
“I'm not sure what statement we would have been making by pulling the All-Star Game but saying we're absolutely fine playing our playoff game in Charlotte,” Silver said. “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. I'm leaving my team there.”
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