NBA moving ’17 All-Star Game from Charlotte

6:34 PM ET

LAS VEGAS — The NBA is moving the the 2017 All-Star Game in February from Charlotte because of its objection to North Carolina House Bill 2, which limited anti-discrimination protections in the state.

In a statement, the league said it hopes to reschedule the game to appear in Charlotte in 2019.

“Since March, when North Carolina enacted HB2 and the issue of legal protections for the LGBT community in Charlotte became prominent, the NBA and the Charlotte Hornets have been working diligently to foster constructive dialogue and try to effect positive change,” the league said. “We have been guided in these discussions by the long-standing core values of our league. These include not only diversity, inclusion, fairness and respect for others but also the willingness to listen and consider opposing points of view.

“Our week-long schedule of All-Star events and activities is intended to be a global celebration of basketball, our league, and the values for which we stand, and to bring together all members of the NBA community – current and former players, league and team officials, business partners, and fans. While we recognize that the NBA cannot choose the law in every city, state, and country in which we do business, we do not believe we can successfully host our All-Star festivities in Charlotte in the climate created by HB2.”

The statement said the league will announce an alternate venue for the event in the coming weeks.

The Vertical reported Thursday that New Orleans had emerged as a front-runner to host the game. Several other NBA cities have become options, including Chicago and New York/Brooklyn, sources told ESPN.

Adam Silver says North Carolina’s anti-LGBT law creates bigger issues than just where to play the All-Star Game. Alex Goodlett/Getty Images

North Carolina governor Pat McCrory reacted to the decision with a statement that said multiple groups had “misrepresented our laws and maligned the people of North Carolina” for months.

“American families should be on notice that the selective corporate elite are imposing their political will on communities in which they do business, thus bypassing the democratic and legal process,” he …

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