LOS ANGELES – The NBA’s most talked-about star, LeBron James, tore apart the league’s plans to host an All-Star Game in Atlanta in March, while COVID-19’s restrictions get in the way of the regular season.
“I have no energy and no excitement about an All-Star Game this year,” James said after Los Angeles Lakers’ 114-93 win over the Denver Nuggets on Thursday. “I don’t even understand why we have an All-Star Game.”
James, 36, has played in the league’s showcase event in 16 of his previous 17 seasons and, as one of the top vote-getter, was named captain for the past three seasons when the NBA moved away from East USA. . West and has adopted a concept format to brighten up the competition.
“Short off-season for myself and my teammates, 71 days,” said James, referring to the time the Lakers had from Game 6 of the NBA Finals in October to opening night against the LA Clippers in December. “And when we got into this season, we were told we didn’t have an All-Star Game, so we would have a nice little break. Five days. [in March] from the fifth through the 10th, an opportunity for me to recalibrate a bit for the second half of the season. My teammates too. Some of the guys in the competition.
And then they throw us an All-Star game like this and just break that all the way up. So, um, kind of a slap in the face. ”
James also explained the obvious health concerns in hosting the festivities in Atlanta, Georgia, where there are fewer state-imposed coronavirus restrictions compared to other NBA venues around the country. For example, the Atlanta Hawks are one of only nine teams to admit fans to their home games this season.
“We’re still dealing with a pandemic, too,” James said. “We’re still dealing with everything that’s going on, and we’re going to bring the whole league together in one city that is open? Obviously, the pandemic has absolutely nothing to do with it right now when it comes to that weekend. .
“You can clearly see that I’m not very happy with it.”
Expressing his displeasure in no uncertain terms, James said he would report for the game if he were named an All-Star for the 17th season in a row. James led the West with 2,288,676 votes in the initial voting results announced earlier Thursday. Brooklyn’s Kevin Durant led the East with 2,302,705 votes as the only player in the league to appear on more ballots than James.
“It’s the deal that the players union and league have come about … I don’t have it in my hands,” said James. “I will be there when I get selected. But I will be there physically, but not mentally.”