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Eric WoodyardESPN
LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo may be competitors in rival conferences, but they share the same feelings regarding the league’s plans to hold an All-Star Game in Atlanta in March.
Fresh off a 33-point, 12-rebound performance in Milwaukee’s 123-105 victory in Cleveland on Friday night, Antetokounmpo backed James’ position in the game that took place in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I think every player is looking forward to those five days, seven days, whatever the days. We all have to follow the big dog,” said Antetokounmpo, referring to James. “The big dog says he has zero excitement and zero energy for the All-Star game and I’m the same way. I really don’t care about the All-Star game right now. We can’t see our families.”
“I can’t worry about the All-Star Game. I want to see my family. I want to see my little brother in Spain, I want my brother to come and see me,” he added. So I am the same way. I have zero energy, no excitement. At the end of the day, when they tell us to show up, we have to do our job. I am I will always do my job, I always come show up to lead by example. But at the end of the day, deep down, I don’t want to do it.
Antetokounmpo was second behind Kevin Durant of Brooklyn in the Eastern Conference frontcourt in the first fan return of NBA All-Star votes.
The reigning back-to-back MVP and Defensive Player of the Year has played in the past four All-Star Games, calling his Chicago experience in 2020 “a lot of fun for the fans.”
“At the end of the day, when we have the All-Star Game, I hope fans can be there and we can give something back,” said Antetokounmpo. “At the end of the day, if we have the All-Star Game to have the All-Star Game and have no fans, I don’t see the point in the All-Star Game.”
Prior to Bucks-Cavaliers’ tip, Milwaukee arrived in Cleveland on the day of the game due to mechanical problems with the team plane Thursday night. The Bucks landed in Cleveland on Friday morning.
Players have learned to adapt to situations like this while playing the pandemic and in mostly empty arenas.
Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer breathed a sigh before expressing his thoughts on the All-Star Game, saying, “I fully understand there are many concerns, and I share them.”
Antetokounmpo, like James, said he was under the impression that the league would not hold the annual showcase until reports indicating something else surfaced. He said he would much rather use the time to get out of basketball rather than compete on that night.
“I thought it would clearly come into the season where we only knew it wasn’t going to be an All-Star Game, it was going to be a time to spend time with our family,” said Antetokounmpo. “Obviously if the protocol changes, it is quite difficult, because your family cannot go out on the road. At home you cannot leave the house, you can go to the rehearsal room or the arena on your own and you have no time for your family. to take with you to a nice dinner or your family on the road or just to escape the game. “