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The 68th NBA All-Star Game has arrived in Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The 68th edition of the NBA's annual midseason showcase exhibition game gets played in Charlotte, with LeBron James set to start for the 15th consecutive year, Kemba Walker ready to excite his home crowd and legends Dirk Nowitzki and Dwyane Wade ready to bid the game farewell as their careers wind down.

Tip-Off for Sunday night's NBA All-Star Game is set for 8 p.m. at the Spectrum Center in uptown Charlotte.

[WSOC-TV Photos: NBA All-Star Celebrity Game at Bojangles Arena]

Sunday is extra special for the Queen City with Charlotte native Steph Curry and Hornets Guard Kemba Walker both starting in the game.

Sports Anchor Phil Orban and Report DaShawn Brown are in the heart of the action. Watch the video above as they break down what you can expect before tip-off. 

While thousands have packed Charlotte to celebrate NBA All-Star Weekend, vendors and area businesses fear the weather may have scared some people from the festivities.

Channel 9's Mark Becker has been speaking to local businesses, who say they have been a little disappointed with the turnout this weekend.

Watch the video above as he previews just how well this big party has done for the businesses and the city. 

Curry, Mourning, Rice, Bogues feted as legends

Dell Curry, Muggsy Bogues, Alonzo Mourning and Glen Rice were honorees at the 20th annual NBA Legends Brunch.

The brunch is a tradition on the morning of the All-Star game. About 2,000 people attended Sunday, including about 200 former NBA players.

Curry was presented a "hometown hero" award. Bogues was feted for his work as a community ambassador. Mourning received the Global Ambassador Award, and Rice was selected as the Charlotte Hornets Legend of the Year.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver was among the speakers, along with Dikembe Mutombo and actor and comedian JB Smoove.

Thousands pack uptown Charlotte ahead of NBA All-Star Saturday night events

NBA All-Star Weekend is underway, the roads are closed, the players and celebrities are here, and the fans are ready to kick off the party.

Saturday night kicked off with the skills challenge at 8 p.m, followed by the 3-point challenge, and the big finale, the slam-dunk contest.

Several Hornets players took to the big stage, including All-Star Kemba Walker will be in the 3-point contest and Rookie Miles Bridges competed in the dunk contest.

Watch the video above as Channel 9's DaShawn Brown and Sports Director Phil Orban speak to those Hornets, who say it's an honor to represent the Queen City this weekend. 

The City of Charlotte and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department have been preparing for the NBA All-Star Weekend for months.

As we hit the half-way point in the weekend, CMPD's priority is safety in uptown, around the Spectrum Center, and areas of big crowds like authorized parties.

“I just got out of the command center, and I’ve got people actively monitoring events going on,” CMPD Officer Jeff Page said. “We’ve got officers, like I mentioned, out everywhere at all the sanctioned events going on.”

Police made nine arrests and seized 10 guns since Friday. None of the weapons were used in a crime, police said.

Watch the video above as Channel 9's Mark Becker gets an update on how police are keeping fans safe in uptown throughout the busy weekend. 

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver says he's pleased with the level of competitive balance that currently exists within the league, though cautioned there are still many ways to improve on that front.

Silver's annual All-Star weekend address was Saturday night. It comes with Milwaukee holding the NBA's best record, a surprise of sorts in Denver contending for the top record in the Western Conference and Sacramento in position to end the league's longest current playoff drought at 13 years.

Silver says there are still teams who choose, for whatever reason, to not be as competitive as others. But he says the league is striving to continue creating a fair and balanced playing field for all 30 teams.

Friday - Crowds swarm into Charlotte for plethora of NBA All-Star events, parties

The first major events of the NBA All-Star Weekend were the Celebrity Game at Bojangles Coliseum and Rising Stars Game at the Spectrum Center Friday night.

Comedian Famous Los scored 22 points and was selected the MVP in the Home Team's 82-80 victory over the Visiting Team in the highest-scoring NBA All-Star Celebrity Game.

Quavo, part of the hip-hop trio Migos, scored 27 points for the Visiting Team, and former NBA star Ray Allen added 24 in the game that featured 4-point baskets.

Roads surrounding the Spectrum Center in uptown Charlotte started being blocked off Thursday night as visitors swarmed into town for the NBA All-Star Weekend.

[ALSO READ: Final preps, road closures in place for NBA All-Star Weekend in uptown]

The following streets near the Spectrum Center will be closed:

  • East Fifth Street
  • Fourth Street
  • Caldwell Street
  • Brevard Street
  • East Trade Street

Watch the video above as Traffic Team 9's Mark Taylor joins us from Chopper 9 SkyZoom to break down the impacts on traffic, with a perspective you can't get on the ground. 

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Watch the video above as Channel 9's DaShawn Brown and Phil Orban previews what we can expect from tonight's NBA Rising Stars Game. 

[MORE COVERAGE: NBA All-Star Weekend]

Huge crowds will be in the Charlotte area all weekend as thousands prepare for NBA All-Star Weekend.

Authorities said there are more than 300 All-Star related parties across Charlotte that the city will be making sure stays safe.

Watch the video above as Channel 9's Stephanie Tinoco learns how local law enforcement have been preparing for the big crowds and events. 

[NBA All-Star Weekend: Who is participating in what event]

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