Eric Richardson [Flickr]

AEG CEO Tim Leiweke, NBA Commisioner David Stern, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Councilwoman Jan Perry pose with a basketball bearing the logo for the 2011 NBA All-Star Game.

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — This early report has been superseded by a full story from the announcement.

The 2011 NBA All-Star Game is returning to Los Angeles and Staples Center just seven years after its last appearance. NBA Commissioner David Stern made the news official this afternoon in a press conference that features Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Councilwoman Jan Perry and AEG CEO Tim Leiweke.

Earlier story:

NBA Commissioner David Stern will join Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Councilwoman Jan Perry and AEG CEO Tim Leiweke for a "major NBA announcement" before Sunday's Game 2 of the Lakers series against the Orlando Magic.

Staples Center officials had no comment when reached this afternoon, but rumors are that the group will announce Los Angeles as site of the 2011 NBA All-Star game.

Staples Center's only other All-Star game came in 2004, but anyone who last visited the arena for that game would scarcely recognize the surrounding neighborhood. Across the street, the $2-billion L.A. Live entertainment complex has transformed what were then parking lots.

The complex, which broke ground in late 2005, features nearly 1,000 hotel rooms, eleven restaurants, a bowling alley, a museum, a movie theater, a 7,000 seat theater, two clubs and broadcast facilities for both ESPN710 and ESPN television.

The 2009 All-Star game was played on February 15 in Phoenix, AZ. The 2010 game is scheduled for the new Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, TX.

Sunday's announcement will take place at 4:15 inside Staples Center. Our bet? NBA fans can start looking at airfare for February of 2011.

Update (6pm): CBS2 and the L.A. Times are now also both reporting that the announcement will be the All-Star game.