NEW YORK – The NBA announced today that comedy superstar Kevin Hart will serve as the first-ever on-court emcee of the NBA All-Star Game, which will take place on Sunday, Feb. 16 at Chase Center – home of the Golden State Warriors – and air at 8 p.m. ET on TNT, TBS, truTV and MAX.

Hart, a longtime friend of the NBA and four-time NBA All-Star Celebrity Game MVP, will bring his signature humor and energy to the reimagined All-Star Game format, providing commentary from the court as play unfolds.  He will be leveraging his longstanding friendships with the league’s prominent players and his legendary status as an entertainer to add a layer of comedic disruption into the live game. Hart will be charged with hyping up fans in the arena and watching around the world alongside Ernie Johnson and team general managers Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, Candace Parker and Kenny Smith.

Four-time NBA All-Star Draymond Green of the Warriors officially invited Hart to come to NBA All-Star in a new promotional spot, solidifying his role at the event.

As previously announced, the NBA All-Star Game will feature four teams and three games.  Each game will be won by the first team to score 40 points.  Barkley, O’Neal and Smith chose their rosters from the All-Star player pool in the NBA All-Star Draft.  Parker’s team will be the Castrol Rising Stars champion.