Report: 18 NBA All-Stars to Play in ‘World All-Star Classic’


Despite a few logistical hiccups, the NBA players’ world tour appears set to get off the ground as initially planned, and according to ESPN, some 18 All-Stars will participate: “Nearly two dozen of the NBA’s top stars will embark on a six-game, two-week, four-continent tour that begins Sunday in San Juan, Puerto Rico, according to sources with knowledge of the situation. … Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, Dwyane Wade and Kevin Durant will headline the roster of 18 all-star players, sources said. The remaining 14 players will be announced Wednesday. LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire, Blake Griffin, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Carlos Boozer, Tyson Chandler, Steve Nash, Kevin Love, Rajon Rondo and Chris Kaman are among the candidates. Two rumored participants who definitely won’t be making the trips overseas are reigning NBA MVP Derrick Rose and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook … Tour organizers aim to replace Rose and Westbrook with, among others, Rose’s Bulls teammate, Joakim Noah, the source said. The tour’s first game will be played Sunday, Oct. 30, in San Juan at Jose Miguel Agrelot Coliseum. Tickets will go on sale in Puerto Rico on Wednesday afternoon. The next two games will be on Nov. 1 and 3 at the O2 Arena in London. Game 4 will be played Nov. 6 in Macau in the Cotai Arena at the Venetian Hotel, and the tour will close in Melbourne, Australia with games at Rod Laver Arena on Nov. 8 and 9. Each player will receive a salary, ranging from six figures to $1 million. Many of the proceeds will go towards charity.”