The NBA and its fans will be heading to the desert next winter, after league commissioner David Stern announced on Thursday that Phoenix has been selected to host the 2009 All-Star Game for the third time.

"Phoenix is one of the great sports and entertainment destinations, so it is only natural that it will once again become the basketball capital of the world," Stern said in a statement.

"We appreciate the leadership of Jerry Colangelo, Robert Sarver and the Suns organization for inviting us to make their arena our home for what promises to be an exciting and entertaining All-Star weekend."

The 58th All-Star Game will be played at the US Airways Center on Sunday, February. 15, 2009, capping a weekend filled with several fan-favourite competitions, including the Rookie Challenge, Three- Point Shootout and Slam Dunk Contest that will be televised to over 200 countries.

Phoenix hosted the All-Star Game on January 15, 1975, when New York Knicks' guard Walt "Clyde" Frazier scored 30 points to lead the East past the West 108-102.

Twenty years later, the All-Star Game returned to the desert on February 12, 1995, when Sacramento Kings guard Mitch Richmond scored 23 points to earn MVP honours for leading the West to a 139-112 blowout of the East.

New Orleans is host to this year's All-Star Game on February 17, 2008.