Philadelphia 76ers stars Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons have been ruled ineligible to play in the 2021 NBA All-Star Game in Atlanta on Sunday night due to the league's COVID-19 contact tracing protocols. The NBA announced the news Sunday morning after Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium first reported the possibility of them missing the game.
Embiid and Simmons' personal barber returned a positive COVID-19 test and then tested positive again, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. The Sixers stars' exposure to the barber before they arrived in Atlanta is putting their All-Star Game participation in jeopardy. More details here:
The exposure occurred with Embiid and Simmons‘ personal barber who had a positive test result and is awaiting another test. Both traveled by themselves on private planes, and had no exposure to other players or people down in Atlanta bubble. https://t.co/PeiSFzzPZS
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 7, 2021
This quarantine process was applied per NBA’s normal strict protocols. Embiid and Simmons have not been in contact with other people in Atlanta due to league’s quarantine. https://t.co/PeiSFzzPZS
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 7, 2021
Sixers head coach Doc Rivers acknowledged Sunday that it wasn't “looking great” for Embiid and Simmons to play in the All-Star Game, per Marc Stein of The New York Times. Embiid and Simmons were quarantining in their hotel rooms as they waited on the final decision.
Embiid was voted in as an All-Star Game starter amid his MVP-caliber season and was selected by Kevin Durant in the All-Star Draft. The Sixers big man is averaging 30.2 points, 11.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.2 steals in 33.0 minutes per game. He's shooting 52.1% from the field and 41.6% on 3-pointers.
Simmons was voted in as a reserve by the coaches and is on Team LeBron. The Sixers star is averaging 16.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, 7.6 assists and 1.6 steals in 33.9 minutes per game.
Embiid and Simmons will not be replaced in the All-Star Game.
Led by Embiid and Simmons, the Sixers have the best record in the Eastern Conference at 24-12. Philly will be back in action on Thursday against the Chicago Bulls.
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