There could still be an NBA All-Star Weekend — or at least an All-Star Game — for the 2020-21 season.
According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) are “discussing the possibility” of putting on a safe All-Star Game on March 7.
Atlanta is one of the potential host cities under consideration for the game, and the NBA plan would include support for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), along with COVID-19 relief.
As Woj notes, Atlanta is home to Turner Sports, one of the NBA's primary broadcast partners.
Originally, BankersLife FieldHouse in Indianapolis was slated to host this season's NBA All-Star festivities from Feb. 21-24, but the league postponed Indy's weekend until Feb. 16-18, 2024.
At the time, the NBA announced that an All-Star game for the 2020-21 season would not take place, as the absence of fans to attend the events and the general inability to host indoor gatherings would render much of the weekend pointless.
However, it seems as though the NBA will try to play four quarters of basketball featuring the game's brightest stars.
NBPA President Chris Paul is reportedly in favor of the idea and the opportunity to benefit HBCUs, per Woj.
The NBA has yet to release a schedule for the second half of the season as it navigates through COVID-19 issues. Already, the league has seen over 20 games postponed and a rash of positive tests, and has had to revise its health and safety protocols multiple times.
There is a midseason break scheduled for March 5-10.
After this season, the NBA All-Star Weekend will head to Cleveland in 2022 and Salt Lake City in 2023.
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