The Phoenix Suns will host the 2027 NBA All-Star game, providing Suns owner Mat Ishbia with a franchise event for the city about one year after buying the team. In total, Phoenix is set to host the All-Star game for the fourth time. The other three came in 1975, 1995, and now in 2009. Excited about the return of the NBA All-Star Game to the valley, Ishbia had this to say:
“This is one of the best basketball cities in the whole country, we think. We’re excited for everybody to come. Make this the hub for that weekend and hopefully create the most memorable All-Star weekend of all time.”
Ishbia agreed to purchase the Suns and WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury from controversial owner Robert Sarver for approximately $4 billion last December and officially took over in March. One of his first actions as Suns owner, according to BettingTop10 NZ, was approving a trade that brought Kevin Durant to Phoenix, and Ishbia has gained popularity with Suns fans for his heavy spending. NBA commissioner Adam Silver is also excited about the NBA All-Star Game returning to Phoenix with these recent remarks:
“We know NBA All-Star Weekend in 2027 will celebrate Phoenix’s passion for all things basketball. We can’t wait to partner with Mat Ishbia and the entire Suns organization to create an unforgettable experience for our league and our fans.”
NBA All-Star weekend has been a popular event for years, despite the actual game becoming progressively less competitive. The recent All-Star Game introduced a new format to switch things up and reimagine this traditional performance.
Instead of the East vs. West All-Stars, this recent All-Star Game transformed into a mini-tournament. The 2026 NBA All-Star Game featured USA Stars, USA Stripes, and Team World. Team World consists of International All-Stars.
The new format had three 12-minute contests. USA Stars defeated Team World in overtime to advance to the championship game against the USA Stripes. In a dominant win, USA Stars won the mini championship tournament, 47-21. It’s unclear whether this unique, groundbreaking format will continue in 2027, when Phoenix hosts the NBA All-Star Game.
The traditional NBA 3-Point Shootout and Slam Dunk Contest will carry over in Phoenix in 2027. In preparation for All-Star fever in the valley, the 2026 WNBA All-Star game will also be held in Phoenix this summer.
The current stadium the Phoenix Suns play in is the Footprint Center, formerly known as America West Arena. The Suns have been playing there since 1992, the year the league MVP, Charles Barkley, led Phoenix to the NBA Finals. However, Barkley’s Suns lost in six games to a three-pointer by John Paxson.
The Phoenix Suns entered the NBA as an expansion team, 9 years before the NBA-ABA merger. The Suns made it to the 1976 NBA Finals and were part of the historic Game 5 that went into triple overtime. However, the Celtics, led by the late John Havlicek and Dave Cowens, won in six games.
