LOS ANGELES – NBA star LeBron James tore up the league’s plans to host a All-Star game in Atlanta in March, while COVID-19 restrictions continue to control the regular season.
“I have zero energy and zero enthusiasm for a All-Star game this year,” James said after the Los Angeles Lakers ’114-93 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Thursday. “I don’t even understand why we have an All-Star Game.”
James, 36, has played in the league showcase in 16 of his 17 previous seasons in the league and, as a maximum voter, was named captain for the past three seasons when the NBA moved away from the league. ‘East vs. West and adopted a draft format to spice up the competition.
“Little off-season for me and my teammates, 71 days,” James said, referring to the time the Lakers spent from the 6th game of the NBA Finals in October to the opening night against the LA Clippers in December. “And after we got to this season, we were told we didn’t have an All-Star Game, so we would take a little break. Five days [in March] from fifth to 10th, an opportunity to recalibrate myself during the second half of the season. My classmates too. Some of the guys in the league.
“And then they throw us an All-Star Game like this and it just breaks all that. So, um, almost kind of slapped.”
James also voiced obvious health concerns about the celebration of the festivities in Atlanta, Georgia, where there are fewer state-imposed coronavirus restrictions compared to other NBA venues across the country. The Atlanta Hawks, for example, are one of nine teams that allow fans to play their home games this season.
“We’re also still facing a pandemic, too,” James said. “Are we still dealing with everything that’s going on and we’re going to take the whole league to an open city? Viously, obviously, the pandemic has absolutely nothing to do with it right now when it comes to this weekend.
“Viouslybviament, you can see I’m not very happy about that.”
Although he expressed his displeasure in uncertain terms, James said he would file a report for the match if he was named All-Star for the 17th consecutive season. James led the West with 2,288,676 votes in the first league polls announced earlier Thursday. Kevin Durant, of Brooklyn, led the East with 2,302,705 votes as the only player in the league to appear on more ballots than James.
“It’s the deal that the player association and the league produced … It’s out of my hands,” James said. “I’ll be there if I’m selected. But I’ll be there physically, but not mentally.”