The NBA is working on trying to play a full and complete 2020-21 season in the murky waters that the pandemic currently represents and things have been rocky at times. There have been 23 games postponed so far due to the league’s health and safety protocols as they try and keep everybody safe.
One event that was assumed to not be happening was the annual All-Star game. Considering the current circumstances the league finds itself in, it seemed that All-Star weekend was not happening as a small sacrifice to complete the season.
However, both the NBA and the NBPA are now working towards having a 2021 All-Star game in Atlanta and it will benefit HBCUs. The game would be held on March 7 and it appears that they will have the usual skills events as well all in one day.
ESPN story on NBA, NBPA progressing toward an agreement on a March 7 All-Star Game and skills competitions in Atlanta: https://t.co/zgRAG7tI2v
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 2, 2021
This would definitely affect the Philadelphia 76ers as they would most likely send Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, and Tobias Harris to the game and coach Doc Rivers would be on track to coach a team due to the Sixers being on top of the Eastern Conference.
“I don’t think about that,” said Rivers. “That’s more league stuff, I try to stay out of that. Obviously, all coaches would take the vacation time off, but, it’s good for the league we should have it.”
The question then becomes why would the NBA and its players do this? Why would they risk the health and safety of others to play an ultimately meaningless game?
At the end of the day, as long as it’s done safely, it would be something that would beneficial for the league in terms of ratings and money.
“I’m not smart enough to know what’s good for the league in that case, but I’m a true believer in that if it’s good for the league, overall, then we should have an All-Star game,” Rivers added. “They’ll figure out what is what isn’t especially with all the safety protocols.”
This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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