LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo could be the conference’s rival competitors, but they share the same sentiments regarding the League’s plans to hold an All-Star Game in Atlanta in March.
Fresh off a 33-point, 12-rebound performance in the Milwaukee Bucks 123-105 victory in Cleveland on Friday night, Antetokounmpo backed James’ position in the game amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I think all the players were looking forward to those five days, seven days, whatever they are. We have to follow the Big Dog,” said Antetokounmpo, referring to James. “The Big Dog says he has no excitement or energy for the All-Star game and I think the same. Right now I really don’t care about the All-Star game. 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 visit me,” he added. “So I think the same way. I have no energy, no emotion. At the end of the day, when they say we have to come, we have to do our job. I’m always going to do my job, I always show up and give the good example. But at the end of the day, deep down, deep down, I don’t want to do it. I want to take a break. “
Antetokounmpo was second to Brooklyn’s Kevin Durant on the Eastern Conference front court in the first fan vote.
The current MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in a row has played in the past four All-Star Games, calling his Chicago experience in 2020 “great fun for the fans.”
“At the end of the day, when we have the All-Star Game, I hope the fans can be there and we can give them back,” said Antetokounmpo. “At the end of the day, if we have the All-Star Game to have the All-Star Game and we have no fans, I don’t see the point in playing it.”
Before the Bucks-Cavaliers start, Milwaukee also arrived in Cleveland on Thursday-evening due to mechanical problems with the team’s plane. They landed in Cleveland on Friday morning.
Players have learned to adapt to situations like this while playing during the pandemic and in largely 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 the contrary began to appear. He said he would rather spend time relaxing basketball than playing games that night.
“Of course I was thinking about going into the season where we just knew it wasn’t going to be an All-Star Game, it would be a time to spend time with our family,” said Antetokounmpo. “Obviously if the protocol changes, it’s a bit difficult, because your family can’t come to the road on the way. You can’t leave the house at home, you can only go to the practice facilities or the stadium and you don’t do that” I don’t have time to take his family to a nice dinner or to take his family on tour or just to escape the game. “