NEW ORLEANS – NBA All-Star 2017 will bring together some of the most talented and passionate players in the league’s history for a global celebration of the game in New Orleans.  The 66^th NBA All-Star Game, set for Sunday, Feb. 19 at 8 p.m. ET at Smoothie King Center, will be televised by TNT and broadcast on ESPN Radio.  The event will reach fans in 215 countries and territories in 49 languages through the league’s international television and digital partners.

NBA All-Star 2017 marks the 25^th anniversary of Magic Johnson’s stirring performance at the 1992 All-Star Game in Orlando.  In honor of Johnson, here are 25 tidbits about this year’s event:

NBA All-Star in New Orleans

• 3 – New Orleans will host NBA All-Star for the third time: 2008, 2014 and 2017.
• 2 – The two MVPs from All-Star Games in New Orleans were both voted to start for the East this year: LeBron James (2008 MVP) and Kyrie Irving (2014 MVP) of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
• 232 – NBA All-Star 2017 will feature 232 current and former NBA players taking part in events.
• 250 – More than 250 of the NBA’s best entertainment acts, game-presentation producers and directors from all 30 teams will be part of All-Star festivities.

NBA on TNT

• 30 – In a tribute to legendary TNT sideline reporter Craig Sager, 30 local cancer survivors will be hosted at the BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge in a special “Sager Strong” section of the lower seating bowl on Friday, Feb. 17.
• 70,000 – Turner Sports’ fan-focused “NBA on TNT Road Show” will cover 70,000 square feet and host four days of live telecasts, musical performances, basketball clinics, interactive fan experiences, pop-up stores and more at Champions Square in New Orleans.
• 15 – TNT will televise the All-Star Game for the 15^th consecutive year, marking Turner Sports’ 32^nd year of NBA All-Star coverage.
• 78 – TNT and NBA TV analysts who are contributing to All-Star coverage combined for 78 All-Star selections during their playing careers (Shaquille O’Neal – 15, Kevin Garnett – 15, Isiah Thomas – 12, Charles Barkley – 11, Grant Hill – 7, Kevin McHale – 7, Chris Webber – 5, Reggie Miller – 5, Steve Smith – 1).

NBA on ESPN

• 14 – ESPN will present the annual NBA All-Star Celebrity Game for the 14^th
• 21 – ESPN Radio will broadcast its 21^st NBA All-Star Game, having aired its first in 1996.

NBA on NBA TV

• 5 – For the first time ever, NBA TV’s coverage of NBA All-Star Media Day will extend to five hours, beginning at noon ET on Friday, Feb. 17.

NBA Cares

• 10 – This year marks the 10^th NBA Cares All-Star Day of Service, which began in New Orleans in 2008 after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.

Basketball without Borders

• 67 – Sixty-seven high school-age boys and girls from 32 countries and territories across Africa, the Americas, Asia and Europe will participate in the third annual Basketball without Borders Global Camp, learning directly from NBA and FIBA players and coaches.

BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge

• 5 – All five members of the 2015-16 NBA All-Rookie First Team have been selected to play in the game: Devin Booker (U.S. Team), Nikola Jokic (World Team), Jahlil Okafor (U.S.), Kristaps Porzingis (World) and 2015-16 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year Karl-Anthony Towns (U.S.).

State Farm^® All-Star Saturday Night

• 10 – Ten All-Stars are in Saturday Night events: DeMarcus Cousins (Taco Bell^® Skills Challenge); Anthony Davis (Skills); Gordon Hayward (Skills); Kyrie Irving (JBL Three-Point Contest); DeAndre Jordan (Verizon Slam Dunk); Kyle Lowry (Three-Point); Isaiah Thomas (Skills); Klay Thompson (Three-Point); Kemba Walker (Three-Point); and John Wall (Skills).
• 50 – Aaron Gordon recorded a perfect score of 50 on three straight dunks during his runner-up finish in the 2016 Verizon Slam Dunk. The Orlando Magic forward will compete again this year.

NBA All-Star Game

• 291 – LeBron James is the leading scorer in All-Star Game history with 291
• 1 – Russell Westbrook became the first player to win the Kia NBA All-Star MVP Award outright in back-to-back years: 2015 and 2016.
• 4 – The Golden State Warriors have matched an NBA record with four All-Star selections: Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson.
• 3 – The Memphis Grizzlies’ Marc Gasol is the first player in franchise history to be selected to three NBA All-Star Games (2012, 2015 and 2017).
• 25.6 – Kevin Durant owns the highest scoring average in All-Star Game history at 25.6 points.
• 29.8 – Isaiah Thomas is averaging 29.8 points per game this season (second in the NBA), which is just shy of the Boston Celtics’ single-season record of 29.9 ppg set by Larry Bird in 1987-88.
• 41 – 2017 All-Stars Russell Westbrook and Paul George scored 41 points in the 2015 and 2016 All-Star Games, respectively, one shy of Wilt Chamberlain’s record of 42 points set in 1962.

NBA Development League All-Star

• 15 – The NBA D-League All-Star Game presented by Kumho Tire is set to feature 15 players with NBA experience.
• 2 – Two-time NBA All-Star and Raptors 905 head coach Jerry Stackhouse will lead the Eastern Conference in the NBA D-League All-Star Game.