The person spoke on condition of anonymity because neither the league nor the team has publicly confirmed the details. The Nov. 30 date is described as slightly fluid, but the core of the agreement has been settled: a logo has already been approved and much of the logistical planning is well underway. The league selected Miami several months ago, the person said.

For South Florida, the selection ends one of the longest All-Star droughts of any major market. Miami last hosted the league's midseason showcase in 1990. The nearly four-decade gap has been largely a matter of calendar collisions — All-Star weekend has often fallen at the same time as Miami's massive boat show, and the prevailing view was that the region lacked enough hotel rooms and event space to accommodate both at once.

Tentative plans call for some 2028 events to be held at the University of Miami's arena, a multi-venue approach the league has used for years. This season's All-Star weekend is set for Phoenix.

The 2028 festivities could carry extra significance if LeBron James returns for what would be his 25th and presumably final NBA season. James, who signed a two-year contract with Philadelphia in the offseason, spent four seasons with the Heat and won the first two of his four championships in Miami. If he plays in 2027-28 and is selected, his final All-Star weekend would unfold in the city where his title run began.

The announcement is expected to bring a substantial economic boost to the region — hotel bookings, restaurant traffic and event spending — though the timing alongside the boat show will test the area's capacity in ways that have derailed past bids. League and local officials have not released details on the split of venues or the expected crowd and visitor numbers.

For a city whose sports identity is bound up with the Heat, the 2028 weekend would mark a homecoming nearly 40 years in the making.