DENVER, June 16 -- The Denver Nuggets have been selected to host NBA All-Star 2005, NBA Commissioner David Stern announced today.

Denver will be the stage for the world's greatest athletes as they compete in the NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, Feb. 20 in the Mile High City. In addition to the All-Star Game, NBA All-Star 2005 will feature the exciting All-Star Saturday Night events including the slam-dunk and three-point shooting contests and the Rookie Challenge, the annual showcase featuring the league's top first and second year players.

The NBA action will take place off-the-court as well with a full week's worth of community outreach and fan interaction with players, coaches, NBA legends and the extended NBA family in the Denver area. The All-Star Game, All-Star Saturday Night and the Rookie Challenge will be hosted by the Nuggets at their home arena, Denver's Pepsi Center and televised exclusively on Turner Network Television (TNT) and the NBA on ESPN Radio.

"Denver is an outstanding host city for NBA All-Star 2005 and we appreciate the leadership of Stan Kroenke and the Nuggets organization for inviting us to make their home, our home for our annual celebration of NBA basketball," said Stern. "With the 2003 NBA Finals having an ABA feel, it seems only appropriate to announce at this time that the NBA is holding the All-Star Game in yet another fantastic city with ABA roots."

"Being chosen to host a widely loved event such as NBA All-Star 2005 is a compliment to this city, this franchise and the entire Nuggets family," said Denver Nuggets owner Stan Kroenke. "It will be an invaluable opportunity to show off the Mile High City to fans across the globe and only advances our goal of making the Pepsi Center one of the world's premier sports facilities."

NBA All-Star 2005 will mark the first time in over 20 years that the All-Star Game has been held in the Rocky Mountain city. The Nuggets hosted the 1984 NBA All-Star Game which featured the inaugural NBA Slam-Dunk Championship. The East defeated the West 154-145 in overtime as Detroit's Isiah Thomas captured the game's Most Valuable Player Award.

"I'm very excited about Denver hosting the NBA All-Star Game and look forward to coming back to the Pepsi Center to watch the Nuggets' third pick of this year's NBA Draft participate," said Denver Mayor Wellington Webb.

Prior to 1984, Denver played host to the ABA All-Star Game in 1976 when the Nuggets' David Thompson garnered the MVP award after the Nuggets scored a record 52 fourth quarter points and defeated the ABA All-Stars 144-138 at McNichols Arena.

In addition to the events at the Pepsi Center, NBA Jam Session, the popular weeklong fan interactive basketball celebration, will be at the Colorado Convention Center.

The STAPLES Center will host NBA All-Star 2004 in Los Angeles, Feb. 13-15. The 2003 NBA All-Star Game was hosted by the Atlanta Hawks at Philips Arena and broadcast to 212 countries in 41 languages.