While the NBA community is celebrating that the league is actually trying to carry out the All-Star Game this season, the picture looks different for players. Not everybody is convinced this is the best decision for the association but nobody is stopping their plans.
One of those is Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James, who had some strong words to describe how he feels about this situation. The current NBA champion was very critical of the game, which is expected to be held on March 7th, claiming it felt like a “slap in the face” given all the things players will do this season, the short turnaround and more.
“I have zero energy and zero excitement about an All-Star Game this year,” James said following the Lakers’ win over Denver Nuggets, via Dave McMenamin of ESPN. “I don’t even understand why we’re having an All-Star Game…
“And then coming into this season, we were told that we were not having an All-Star Game, so we’d have a nice little break. Five days [in March] from the fifth through the 10th, an opportunity for me to kind of recalibrate for the second half of the season. My teammates as well. Some of the guys in the league.
“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…
“I’ll be there if I’m selected. But I’ll be there physically, but not mentally.”
LeBron hasn’t been the only one criticizing this decision. Sacramento Kings’ De’Aaron Fox also talked about that, saying it was “stupid” but just like James, he would attend the game if he was selected, especially because of the fine he would get if he doesn’t attend the event.
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The King isn’t happy with all the decisions the league is making in recent months. He was convinced the season was going to start in 2021, but it started in December 2020; he was ready to take a nice break in March and now he will have to play in the All-Star Game as one of the most voted players by fans.
