NEW YORK, Sept. 30 (Xinhua) -- The 65-year league of the National Basketball Association (NBA) will have its All-Star game to be held outside the United States for the first time as Canadian city Toronto will host the 2016 version of the annual event.

NBA Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver announced Monday that Toronto and the Raptors were selected to host the NBA All-Star 2016 at the Air Canada Center.

"We are thrilled that Toronto is hosting our first NBA All-Star Game outside the United States," said Silver in a statement. "As the site of the first game ever in the NBA, Toronto is an ideal location for this global basketball celebration."

The 2016 All-Star competitions will start on February 12, with Celebrity Game, Rising Stars Challenge, All-Star Saturday Night, Skills Challenge, Three-Point Contest, Slam Dunk contest and All- Star at the end.

Toronto plans to stage a pregame concert with Canadian rap star Drake and Mayor Rob Ford among other big music stars before the game.