Back in June, as the NBA was putting together a plan for a return to play for the 2019-20 season in the Disney World Bubble, it was Los Angeles Clippers guard Patrick Beverley who spoke out as some players, like Kyrie Irving, debated whether they should come back at all for the season.
“Hoopers say what y’all want. If [James] said he hooping. We all hooping,” he wrote on Twitter. “Not Personal only BUSINESS.”
The same should go for how the NBA does its business, especially with the All-Star game, which is in the midst of being negotiated on by the NBA Players Association and the league.
I know: it’s probably about the money generated by the event — although, per USA TODAY Sports, “both sides have also discussed a plan to provide funding for historically black colleges and universities and COVID-19 relief.” There are complications behind-the-scenes I might not be considering.
But the NBA, like other leagues, has had its struggles with the COVID-19 pandemic as expected, and given that this season started so close to the last one, James expressed his desire to rest instead:
“Zero energy and zero interest”@KingJames on playing in the All-Star Game. pic.twitter.com/yrVi6oedkF
— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) February 5, 2021
James isn’t the only big-name player saying this — Sacramento Kings star De’Aaron Fox had an honest take this week: “I think it’s stupid.”
De’Aaron Fox was brutally honest on the NBA’s plan to have an All-Star game this season…
(via @SeanCunningham)pic.twitter.com/81XbryBfmA
— Dime (@DimeUPROXX) February 4, 2021
When James speaks, the NBA and the NBAPA needs to listen. When there are starts like Fox — and there will be others, I imagine — speaking, everyone should listen. An All-Star Game that everyone’s dreading instead of the much-needed rest isn’t a good idea.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL89E_SzPNzLqXug9ytQ_TRLxehRIDfI52