The NBA is on the verge of holding an All-Star Game despite the ongoing pandemic, and while many players have voiced their disagreement with it, Brooklyn Nets head coach Steve Nash thinks the game will be played safely (via HoopsHype's Michael Scotto).
Steve Nash on NBA All-Star Game: “I trust in the league. I trust that they'll create a bubble that’s safe for that game & the trip. I trust that they have experience now with the bubble & this pseudo bubble that we’re living in, & they’ll put the players in a position to be safe" pic.twitter.com/w2dUDno2lE
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) February 5, 2021
Nash made his remarks after a few NBA players, including James and De'Aaron Fox, voiced their frustrations about the decision by the league to hold an All-Star Game.
LeBron: “I have zero energy and zero excitement about an All-Star game this season.” He said he was looking to a five-day break in March after the shortened offseason and believes it is not a wise decision during the pandemic, either. “I’ll be there physically but not mentally”
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) February 5, 2021
DeAaron Fox on having an All-Star game this season: “I’ll be brutally honest – I think it’s stupid. If we have to wear masks and do all this for a regular game, what’s the point of bringing the ASG back?”
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) February 4, 2021
Both of the players have valid reasons for not wanting to play the game, and the break would be beneficial for these guys that have been going nonstop with limited time for family.
As far as Nash is concerned, the fact that the NBA pulled off the playoff bubble last season during the playoffs bodes well for the possibility of a healthy All-Star Game. His point is valid, but the players feel differently, especially the ones who played in the bubble and made the short turnaround for the regular season.
While the NBA's COVID-19 issues have gone down in the last couple of weeks, bringing that many players and coaches from different teams and cities to one location seems like a red flag.
All-Star Weekend is always one of the most highly anticipated events, with the Slam Dunk Contest and Three-Point Contest being precursors to the game itself, but this year it appears many of the players feel differently and don't want to put themselves at unnecessary risk.
The NBA and NBPA have agreed to host the All-Star Game on March 7 in Atlanta, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Sides are finalizing details of the plan as soon as Thursday.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 4, 2021
As of now, the game is scheduled to be played in March with Atlanta being the host city, despite the comments from several players around the league.
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