All-Star Game

De’Aaron Fox On 2021 All-Star Game: “I Think It’s Stupid”

February 4th, 2021 at 2:03pm CST by JD Shaw

Kings guard De’Aaron Fox is opposed to the NBA holding an All-Star Game this season, giving an honest assessment of the situation after Sacramento defeated Boston 116-111 on Wednesday night.

“If I’m going to be brutally honest, I think it’s stupid,” Fox said, as relayed by Sean Cunningham of ABC 10. “If we have to wear masks and do all of this for a regular game, what’s the point in bringing the All-Star Game back? Obviously, money makes the world go round, so it is what it is. I’m not really worried about it. If I’m voted (in), so be it.”

The pandemic has forced the NBA to postpone 23 games so far this season, as shown in our 2020/21 Game Postponement Tracker. The league announced 16 positive tests on January 13, 11 positive tests on January 20, one positive test the following week, and zero positive tests on Wednesday.

Fox, 23, is averaging a career-high 22.3 points, 6.6 assists and 32.6 minutes per game this season, making him a candidate to become a first-time All-Star. When asked whether he’d play in the game, Fox made it clear there wouldn’t be much of a choice.

“If you’re supposed to be in it, you’re not hurt and you decide not to play, that’s a hefty fine,” Fox said while laughing. “So hell yeah I would play in it.”

The All-Star Game is set to be held in Atlanta on Sunday, March 7, with additional details forthcoming. There has been some chatter that the league won’t make participation mandatory for the players chosen as All-Stars this time around.

NBA, NBPA Progressing Toward Agreement On All-Star Game

February 2nd, 2021 at 10:09am CST by Luke Adams

The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association are making progress toward an agreement to hold an All-Star Game on Sunday, March 7 in Atlanta, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. If finalized, it would be a single-night event at State Farm Arena that includes both a game and skills competitions, Wojnarowski adds.

The 2021 NBA All-Star weekend was originally scheduled to take place in Indianapolis, but the league postponed it — Indiana will now host the All-Star festivities in 2024.

Chris Paul, the president of the players’ union, has been among those pushing a revamped All-Star Game in Atlanta, which he’d like to use to benefit historically black colleges and universities and COVID-19 relief, Woj notes.

The idea of holding an All-Star Game at all amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has faced “resistance and skepticism” from a number of players and team executives, who view it as an unnecessary risk, according to Wojnarowski.

The safer approach would be to select two All-Star teams but not require players to travel from all over the country to a single site for a game, since one positive test among that group could result in mass postponements around the league at the start of the second half.

Still, the NBA sounds committed to trying to hold an All-Star Game, which is typically one of the league’s top events in terms of fan engagement, Wojnarowski observes. If an agreement can be officially reached, it would include a number of extra safeguards and protocols related to health and safety. Those details are still being negotiated.

The two sides are also believed to be discussing giving players the opportunity to opt out of participating in the game, which is usually mandatory for those selected, sources tell ESPN.

And-Ones: Milutinov, Macon, G League, Dunk Contest

February 1st, 2021 at 9:54pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Serbian center and former Spurs first-round pick Nikola Milutinov has suffered a major shoulder injury playing for CSKA Moscow and will undergo surgery, Ennio Terrasi Borghesan of Sportando relays. Milutinov, who suffered the injury last week against Bayern Munich, signed a three-year contract with the EuroLeague powerhouse last June. Milutinov was selected by the Spurs with the 26th overall pick in the 2015 NBA draft. However, he has yet to sign an NBA contract. He played five seasons with Olympiacos in Greece.

We have more from around the basketball world:

The G League will have 14 additional players on the Orlando campus as fill-ins in case of injuries, callups or other issues, Jonathan Givony of ESPN tweets. Rawle Alkins, Isaiah Briscoe and Malik Pope are among the players on the list.
Former NBA guard Daryl Macon has parted ways with Galatasaray Istanbul, the team tweets. He’s joining AEK Athens, Lithuanian journalist Donatas Urbonas tweets. Macon began the 2019/20 season on a two-way deal with Miami and was waived last January. He also played for Dallas.
Reports surfaced last week that the All-Star Game, which originally was scheduled to be held in Indianapolis this season, could be held after all in Atlanta. Now, the NBA and the players’ union are discussing the addition of both a dunk and three-point contest there on the weekend of March 6-7, Marc Stein of the New York Times tweets.

Community Shootaround: Western All-Star Starters

January 29th, 2021 at 10:00am CST by Luke Adams

Whether or not an All-Star Game can be played in 2021, two All-Star teams will be selected, and voting is now underway. Fans will have a say in picking the 10 starters, with their vote counting for 50% of the total tally, while media members (25%) and players (25%) will also be involved.

On Thursday, we asked you which five Eastern Conference players deserve the strongest consideration for spots as All-Star starters. Today, we’re shifting to the Western Conference and asking you the same question. Let’s dive in and examine some of the candidates…

Guards (2)

The three leading scorers in the Western Conference are also three of the top candidates to be backcourt All-Star starters. Those players are Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (28.8 PPG), Warriors guard Stephen Curry (27.7 PPG), and Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (27.4 PPG).

Doncic’s 9.7 assists and 9.4 rebounds per game improve his candidacy, though his three-point shot has been a problem (28.5% on 7.2 attempts per game) — especially when compared to Curry (39.5% on 11.1 attempts) and Lillard (37.9% on 10.2 attempts). All three teams rank between eighth and 12th in the conference, so team performance won’t give any of them a leg up, at least so far.

If you’re unconvinced by any of those three résumés, there are a handful of other intriguing candidates to consider, including Donovan Mitchell, who is the leading scorer (23.4 PPG) for the top-seeded Jazz.

Ja Morant has averaged 22.6 PPG on 53.2% shooting for the overachieving Grizzlies, while DeMar DeRozan has been the top scorer (20.1 PPG) and play-maker (6.8 APG) for the Spurs, who currently hold a top-five seed in the West.

Lillard’s teammate CJ McCollum was off to a scorching start to the season, with 26.7 PPG and a .441 3PT% through 13 games, but he’s out for at least a month with a foot injury, essentially taking him off the board.

Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Suns guards Devin Booker and Chris Paul, and Mitchell’s teammate Mike Conley are among the other candidates on the periphery. However, the choice in this group probably comes down to two of Lillard, Curry, or Doncic, with Mitchell looming as a wild card.

Frontcourt (3)

Neither Los Angeles team has a particularly strong candidate for a spot in the All-Star backcourt, but there are plenty of options up front.

Lakers star LeBron James has been his usual incredible self, averaging 25.5 PPG, 7.8 RPG, and 7.5 APG through 20 games, with a career-best .417 3PT%. He’s a better candidate at this point to start than his teammate Davis, whose scoring average has dipped to 21.9 PPG in the early going.

For the Clippers, you could make a convincing argument in favor of either Kawhi Leonard (25.9 PPG, 5.7 APG, 5.4 RPG, .505/.419/.900 shooting) or Paul George (23.9 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 5.4 APG, .504/.484/.907 shooting), who have been paragons of scoring efficiency while playing solid defense on the other end of the court.

There are a number of candidates capable of crashing an all-L.A. frontcourt though, led by Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, who has been better than ever in 2019/20, with 25.2 PPG on 56.7% shooting to go along with 11.8 RPG, 8.9 APG, and 1.8 SPG.

Rudy Gobert‘s scoring numbers are modest (13.4 PPG), but his 14.2 rebounds per game lead the Western Conference, and he has anchored the Jazz‘s defense, one of the best in the NBA.

Christian Wood is making a bid for All-Star consideration in his first year with the Rockets, averaging a double-double so far (23.4 PPG, 10.8 RPG). Meanwhile, Pelicans forwards Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson each rank among the West’s top 10 scorers with 23.9 PPG apiece, though their team’s performance (6-10, 14th in the conference) hurts their cases.

At this point, I think the most logical Western lineup would include two of Lillard, Curry, and Doncic, along with LeBron, Jokic, and whichever Clippers forward you favor (I’d lean toward Kawhi). But I’m curious to know what you think.

Which five players would you vote into the Western Conference’s starting All-Star lineup? Do you think there are any spots that are too close to call for the time being, or are you ready to pencil in a starting five?

Share your thoughts and your picks in the comment section below!

Community Shootaround: Eastern All-Star Starters

January 28th, 2021 at 12:22pm CST by Luke Adams

We don’t know yet whether the NBA will play an All-Star Game this season, but voting for the starters is now underway. Whether or not a game is played, two All-Star teams will be selected, and fans will play a part in choosing the 10 starters — fan voting will make up 50% of the total tally, while media members (25%) and players (25%) will also have a say.

With that in mind, we want to take a closer look at which players are deserving of the five All-Star starting spots in each conference, starting today with the East.

No team has played more than 20 games so far this season, and some have played as few as 13 or 14 due to coronavirus-related postponements. In other words, it’s awfully early to decide which players have emerged as the top five in each conference. But we can at least evaluate which players are making the strongest cases to be considered for a spot in that group.

Guards (2)

The NBA’s leading scorer, by a wide margin, is Wizards star Bradley Beal, who is averaging a whopping 35.4 PPG so far. But he has only played 13 games and his team has the NBA’s worst record at 3-11. Beal missed out on an All-Star spot last season due in large part to his team’s spot in the standings, and said on Wednesday that he’s not getting his hopes up about an All-Star nod this time around.

Zach LaVine (27.0 PPG for the 7-10 Bulls), Trae Young (26.2 PPG for the 9-9 Hawks), and Collin Sexton (25.2 PPG for the 9-9 Cavaliers) are in a similar boat, putting up big offensive numbers for middle-of-the-pack teams. Young’s 8.8 assists per contest and Atlanta’s .500 record amidst injury woes should strength his case.

Nets stars James Harden and Kyrie Irving have each put up huge numbers and would typically be leading contenders for these backcourt spots, but Harden’s behavior on his way out of Houston and Irving’s personal leave may damper enthusiasm for their cases. Additionally, Irving has only played 12 games, while Harden only has seven appearances with Brooklyn so far.

Raptors guard Kyle Lowry has been an All-Star for six straight seasons and is having another strong season in 2020/21, but it probably hasn’t been quite All-Star-starter worthy, especially given his team’s 7-11 record.

Pacers guard Malcolm Brogdon (22.8 PPG, 7.1 APG) and Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (27.1 PPG, 5.6 RPG) are having career years so far for top-five seeds in the conference. Both players are solid on defense too, with Brown’s two-way play on the wing making him an especially strong candidate.

Sixers guard Ben Simmons has posted very modest scoring numbers (13.0 PPG), but he continues to fill up the stat sheet with 8.6 RPG, 8.0 APG, and 1.6 SPG, and his team currently sits atop the Eastern Conference.

Frontcourt (3)

Unlike his two star teammates, who have been at the center of some off-court drama and have been fined for COVID-19 protocol violations, Nets forward Kevin Durant has made headlines for all the right reasons this season, looking better than ever coming off his Achilles tear (30.5 PPG on .517/.444/.860 shooting).

Reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo (26.8 PPG, 11.0 RPG, 5.6 APG for the 11-6 Bucks) and Sixers center Joel Embiid (27.7 PPG, 11.1 RPG) have been two-way forces for the top seeds in the conference and look like All-Star locks.

Those three players are probably the frontcourt favorites, but there’s no shortage of good candidates across the East. Myles Turner and Domantas Sabonis have helped lead the Pacers to a No. 3 seed so far. Celtics forward Jayson Tatum has missed some time due to COVID-19, but when he’s healthy, has looked even better than he did in his first All-NBA season last year.

Bucks forward Khris Middleton, meanwhile, has mostly flown under the radar again, but he has been one of the NBA’s most efficient scorers, with a .519/.441/.925 shooting line. He’s averaging 21.9 PPG, 6.5 RPG, and 5.8 APG, all of which would be career highs, and his 2.6 win shares place him second in the conference.

Magic center Nikola Vucevic, Knicks big man Julius Randle, Pistons forward Jerami Grant, Heat big man Bam Adebayo, and Hornets forward Gordon Hayward have been standouts for sub-.500 teams.

While I like Durant, Giannis, and Embiid in the frontcourt, I’m having a much harder time deciding on two Eastern guards, as many of the most compelling contenders also have compelling factors working against them. With voting remaining open until February 16, I may take another week or two to finalize my choices there.

What do you think? Are you ready to pencil in your five choices for the Eastern All-Star starting lineup or is it too early to make a call? If you’re ready to vote, which five are you taking? If you’re on the fence, which players do you view as the top candidates?

Head to the comment section below to weigh in with your thoughts!

NBA To Open All-Star Voting On Thursday

January 27th, 2021 at 12:13pm CST by Luke Adams

The NBA has yet to make a final decision on whether an All-Star Game will be played during the 2020/21 season, but the league will open voting for this season’s All-Star teams on Thursday at 11:00 am central time, according to a press release.

As has been the case in recent years, NBA All-Star starters will be determined by a combination of fan voting (50%), media votes (25%), and player votes (25%).

Voting will close at the end of the day on Tuesday, February 16, with TNT revealing the All-Star starters on Thursday, Feb. 18. TNT will subsequently announce the All-Star reserves – voted on by NBA head coaches – on Tuesday, Feb. 23.

Whether or not a game takes place this season, the expectation has always been that All-Star teams will still be selected. As Bobby Marks of ESPN notes (via Twitter), some players have incentives in their contracts that hinge on being named to an All-Star squad.

A report earlier this week indicated that the NBA and NBPA have discussed the possibility of holding an All-Star Game in Atlanta during the league’s midseason break, which will run from March 5-10. Marc Stein of The New York Times suggests (via Twitter) that there is “momentum building” toward that possibility, but nothing has been finalized yet.

This year’s All-Star Game was originally set to be played in Indianapolis, but the NBA has had to adjust its plans due to the coronavirus pandemic. Indiana will now host the 2024 event.

All-Star Game Could Take Place In March

January 25th, 2021 at 5:00pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The NBA is exploring the possibility of holding an All-Star Game in early March, with Atlanta the most likely site, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports.

The league is in talks with the Players Association about holding an All-Star Game on March 7 after initially postponing this year’s annual event due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. All-Star Weekend was originally scheduled to take place in Indianapolis in February, but Indiana will now host the All-Star Game in 2024.

The interest among the Players Association is partly due to charitable causes. NBPA president Chris Paul wants to hold the game to financially benefit Historically Black Colleges and Universities and assist in COVID-19 relief efforts. Turner Sports, which holds the TV rights, is headquartered in Atlanta.

The game could be held in the Hawks’ State Farm Arena, or an Atlanta-based HBCU campus gymnasium, Wojnaowski adds. The NBA has scheduled a midseason break on March 5-10.

All-Star voting will be held regardless of whether a game is held, Marc Stein of the New York Times tweets.

And-Ones: International Games, ASG, Barea, Marijuana, Swanigan

December 23rd, 2020 at 4:24pm CST by Luke Adams

While the NBA often plays preseason games in China and regular season games in Mexico and Europe, that won’t be possible during the 2020/21 season due to the coronavirus — plans for a regular season contest in Paris had to be tabled. However, as Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press writes, the league is looking into scenarios that would allow games to be played overseas again in ’21/22.

“We do anticipate that once it becomes healthy and safe to be able to do that that we’ll return to a schedule of international preseason and regular-season games,” deputy commissioner Mark Tatum said.

Meanwhile, the 2021 All-Star Game is also in jeopardy as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, but it sounds like the NBA hasn’t entirely ruled out the possibility that some sort of All-Star event could still take place. Commissioner Adam Silver said on TNT on Tuesday that the status of the All-Star Game is “yet to be decided depending on how things go,” as Adam Zagoria of Forbes tweets.

Here are more odds and ends from around the NBA:

Although no deal appears imminent for J.J. Barea, the veteran free agent guard is staying in game shape and remains intent on playing this season, either in the U.S. or internationally, tweets Brad Townsend of The Dallas Morning News.
It seems likely that the NBA and NBPA will eventually negotiate the reduction or removal of marijuana-related penalties in the Collective Bargaining Agreement, but Adam Silver is wary of creating issues for players in cities where the drug has not yet been legalized or decriminalized, writes Bill Shea of The Athletic. “We want to make sure we’re not creating a trap for our players and putting in place rules that will put them in the crosshairs of the law,” Silver said.
NBPA executive director Michele Roberts made it clear, within Shea’s story, that she’ll push for the removal of marijuana testing before the current CBA expires. “I don’t see any reason to test for marijuana or cannabis. That’s just nuts. Same for alcohol,” Roberts said. “Are we in the 21st century or what? What are we doing here? I think it’s absurd.”
Speaking of marijuana, former Trail Blazers forward Caleb Swanigan received a reminder that he’s not in Oregon anymore, having been arrested for marijuana possession early on Wednesday morning in Indiana, reports Justin L. Mack of The Indianapolis Star. Police said they found over three pounds of marijuana in Swanigan’s vehicle following a traffic stop.

NBA Postpones All-Star Weekend In Indianapolis

November 25th, 2020 at 12:11pm CST by JD Shaw

The NBA and Pacers have postponed All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis, which was originally set to be held from February 12-14 in 2021, the league announced in a press release today.

The events have been re-scheduled for February 16-18, 2024, with the All-Star Game scheduled to commence on February 18. Plans for a revised 2021 All-Star Weekend will be announced at a later date.

“While we are disappointed that the NBA All-Star Game will not take place in Indianapolis in 2021, we are looking forward to the Pacers and the city hosting the game and surrounding events in 2024,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said. “I want to thank [Pacers owner] Herb Simon, Steve Simon, Rick Fuson and the entire Pacers organization as well as the NBA All-Star 2021 Host Committee and the community of Indianapolis for working with us to reschedule our All-Star activities.”

Following 2021, Cleveland is set to host All-Star Weekend in 2022, with Salt Lake City hosting the events in 2023. The 2024 event would mark the second All-Star Game hosted by Indianapolis, with the first being held back in 1985.

“We are excited about the opportunity to bring Indiana the very best All-Star experience in 2024,” Simon said. “The efforts of so many Hoosiers to prepare for NBA All-Star 2021 put us ahead of the game for the hard work to come, and we are so grateful to the NBA for once again recognizing Indianapolis as a city that delivers world-class events.”

And-Ones: All-Star Game, Playoff Pool, Lemon, Blossomgame

August 17th, 2020 at 7:43pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The 2021 All-Star Game will likely be moved to a later date or even cancelled, according to J. Michael and Nat Newell of the Indianapolis Star. According to a statement from Pacers president Rick Fuson, the chances that the All-Star Game will be played on February 14 are dim, since the start of the season will be pushed back to December or later. Indianapolis is scheduled to host All-Star weekend.

“We have been working with the NBA since 2017 to bring our fans and our city this world-class event, just as we did when we last hosted in 1985,” Fuson said. “While it appears All Star 2021 is unlikely to happen on Presidents’ Day weekend, we are excited about continuing to collaborate with the NBA as we look to the future.”

We have more from around the basketball world:

This year’s playoff pool is a record $23,287,266, up $1.6MM from last year, Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press tweets. The playoff pool has steadily increased in recent years. It was $20MM in 2018, $15MM in 2017 and 2016 and $14MM in 2015. Teams get a bigger share of the pool via seeding and their advancement in the postseason.
Former NBA player Walt Lemon has signed with Hapoel Tel Aviv, Emiliano Carchia of Sportando relays. The 28-year-old guard played in six games with the Bulls in 2018/19 and five games with the Pelicans the previous season. He was cut by the Pacers during training camp last fall.
Jaron Blossomgame has also signed to play in Israel, inking a deal with Ironi Nahariya, according to a separate post from Carchia. The 26-year-old forward appeared in 27 games with the Cavaliers during the 2018/19 season. Blossomgame appeared in a combined 42 games this season for the G League’s Rio Grande Valley Vipers and Windy City Bulls.

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