Charles Barkley wants the NBA All-Star Game moved out of Charlotte
North Carolina's recent passing of a law that inhibits LGBT equality within state lines has stirred quite a bit of controversy over recent weeks, particularly in the NBA, whose All-Star festivities are set to take place there in 2017.
Almost immediately after the bill was signed into law by governor Pat McCrory, the NBA released a statement declaring that it does "not yet know what impact it will have on our ability to successfully host the 2017 All-Star Game in Charlotte."
SEE ALSO: The NBA might move the 2017 All-Star Game out of North Carolina after new 'discriminatory' law
Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry first responded with ambiguity when asked about the NBA potentially moving the All-Star Game, but later clarified by saying, "nobody should be discriminated against."
NBA analyst Charles Barkley rarely veils his thoughts, and certainly didn't when speaking about the new North Carolina law on CNN (emphasis ours).
I think the NBA should move the All-Star game from there next year. As a black person, I'm against any form of discrimination – against whites, Hispanics, gays, lesbians, however you want to phrase it. It's my job, with the position of power that I'm in and being able to be on television, I'm supposed to stand up for the people who can't stand up for themselves. So, I think the NBA should move the All-Star game from Charlotte.
The law has already hit North Carolina financially, with PayPal announcing this week that it is aborting plans to open a facility there, costing the state about 400 new jobs. Stripping the state of the NBA All-Star game would prove the new law to be even more expensive -- the 2014 All-Star Game generated $60.4 million in direct spending, and $45.7 million in secondary spending, with almost $5 million in tax revenue going to the state.
- By John Dorn
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