Over the last few weeks, the NBA has put a plan into place to play the 2021 NBA All-Star Game. While the event hasn't formally been announced yet, Shams Charania of The Athletic reported that the NBA and NBPA agreed to host the event in Atlanta on March 7.
So far, the sentiment around the contest has been lukewarm at best. And on Thursday night, LeBron James offered some strong thoughts on the contest being held after his Los Angeles Lakers beat the Denver Nuggets.
"I have zero energy and zero excitement about an All-Star Game this year," James said, per Spectrum SportsNet. "I don't even understand why we're having an All-Star Game."
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James would go on to discuss the reasons that he wasn't in favor of the event, noting the league's shortened offseason, the fact that the event had already been canceled, and, of course, the ongoing pandemic. He even went as far as calling the decision to hold the contest "a slap in the face" to the players.
James isn't the only one who isn't wild about the All-Star Game taking place. Boston Celtics point guard Kemba Walker was asked about the event ahead of Friday's game against the Clippers and stated that he largely agreed with what James had said.
"I’m probably not going to be selected so I could care less," Walker said, per the Celtics on NBC Sports Boston's Twitter account. "We all saw what ‘Bron said. I agree. He’s a smart man. He’s been around. He’s a leader. A lot of things he says are correct, man. He feels the way he feels."
Walker would go on to say that he was "probably going to be on vacation" during the game, but it appears that he's happy not to have any part of the game this year. That's certainly understandable considering the league's condensed schedule and shortened offseason, the pandemic, and Walker's ongoing recovery from knee surgery that sidelined him for the first 11 games of the Celtics season.
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While Walker isn't likely to make the All-Star Game this year, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown will both have a shot at it. The two are in the running to be voted starters for the event after the first round of fan voting. Tatum made his first All-Star Game last season while Brown has yet to make one in his four previous chances.