NBA officially selects New Orleans as 2017 All-Star host city

The NBA All-Star Game is officially returning to the Bayou.

Confirming longstanding reports, the NBA announced Friday that next year's All-Star weekend will be held in New Orleans, marking the the second time in the last four years and the third time in the last decade that the Big Easy will host the festivities.

"New Orleans is a world-class destination for sports and entertainment and we are very appreciative that the city is once again hosting our All-Star festivities," commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement.

The event should be a particularly electric one for those traveling to attend, as it will fall on the first weekend of Mardi Gras parades in the city.

All-Star 2017 was slated to be held in Charlotte in 2017, but in light of a North Carolina bill that limits anti-discrimination protections for the state's LGBT community, the NBA opted last month to relocate. The league had warned that it would move the event if the inflammatory piece of legislation was not repealed or amended, and the state government's intransigence opened the door for a return to New Orleans.

Louisiana is currently reeling from the effects of mass flooding, and the NBA says it will work with the players' union and the Pelicans and Saints organizations to provide support - financial and otherwise - to flood rescue, relief, and rebuilding efforts.

"Even in the midst of a historic crisis, I am excited that the NBA has recognized how great the city of New Orleans and the state of Louisiana are," said Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards. "In Louisiana, one of the strongest bonds that unites all of us is our passion for sports. Not only will NBA fans be able to participate in the All-Star Game events, they will also be a part of our world-famous Mardi Gras festivities. The fan experience can't get any better than that.

"While we move into the recovery phase of this disaster, I want to thank the NBA for the vote of confidence in our state to host this event and their support for the relief efforts currently underway."