This year’s rule-laden event isn’t rousing the typical level of enthusiasm, and understandably so.
The NBA recently shared the Covid-19 health and safety protocols it will be putting in place for the 2021 All-Star Weekend in Atlanta.
Any player participating in the All-Star eventon March 7th must travel to Atlanta on March 6th via private transportation facilitated by the NBA and must arrive by 7 pm. They will also be required to leave after the game ends and continue daily testing.
All players and guests taking part in the game will also be required to remain inside their hotels when not at the arena, with all players and coaches (including those not participating in the All-Star game) to continue daily Covid-19 testing.
Furthermore, players will be allowed to bring up to four guests each provided they all adhere to a seven-day at-home quarantine excluding essential activities, and must also all undergo regular Covid-19 testing. In some cases, bringing up to 6 guests may be permitted, so long as the additional guests on their list are their children, with no other relationship an exception.
With all that being said, there hasn’t been much anticipation bubbling for this year’s All-Star break compared to events of the past, considering the pandemic and its limitations.
“I have zero energy and zero excitement about an All-Star Game this year. I don’t even understand why we’re having an All-Star Game,” LeBron James told reporters.
James also pointed out how the offseason was shorter, and players expected a break in the middle of the season to aid in recovery – then going on to say, “And then they throw an All-Star Game on us like this and just breaks that all the way up. So, um, pretty much kind of a slap in the face.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo shared the same frustration as James.
“I think every player was looking forward to those five days, seven days, whatever the days are,” Antetokounmpo told reporters.
”We’ve got to all follow the big dog. The big dog says he has zero excitement and zero energy for the All-Star Game, and I’m the same way. I really right now don’t care about the All-Star Game. We cannot see our families.”
Players who will not be participating in the All-Star event are permitted to travel in the U.S. during the break,with locations including Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
They will, however, be required to obtain private accommodations for the trips (this excludes hotels or resorts) and are “strongly recommended” to travel private.
