By Naeem Skief
In the middle of a shortened NBA season plagued by various protocols and safety regulations due to COVID-19, the league’s biggest stars do not agree with the decision to have an All-Star Game this season.
NBA superstars – LeBron James and the normally laxed Kawhi Leonard - are voicing their concerns about the annual weekend continuing this season.
“It’s money on the line; an opportunity to make more money. Just putting money over health right now, pretty much,” Leonard said.
James, 36, is playing at an exceptional level despite his age and team, the Los Angeles Lakers, having the shortest offseason in NBA history with only 71 days of rest due to the Lakers winning the NBA Finals on Oct. 11. He told reporters he would participate but would not be there mentally.
“It’s a slap in the face,” James said. Players did not expect the All-Star Game to be held due to the condensed season, but the league had other plans.
The 2020-21 NBA season abruptly began in December 2020 causing a handful of teams to have less than three full months to prepare and rest. The NBA is normally accustomed to playing its games from October to June.
However, last season, the league was shut down in March 2020 for 141 days due to the virus which caused a loss in revenue. Without games and the presence of fans, the league’s revenue was cut by 40%. As a result, the NBA aims to boost profit through sponsors and media partners.
The National Basketball Players Association’s (NBPA) president Chris Paul, who is an All-Star for the Phoenix Suns, was asked his opinion on having the game this year.
“You just hope that guys understand that decisions that are being made as far as the Union, it always has the full body of players in mind; guys have emotions and feelings, and I respect that,” Paul said.
One of the major concerns for players is health. During the season, multiple teams faced virus outbreaks. As a result, the NBA has postponed over 20 games. Many players are wondering whether playing an exhibition game is worth the risk.
Following the outbreaks, the NBA bolstered the in-place protocols in an attempt to mitigate all COVID related issues. The league implemented several rules: mandating players to wear masks on the bench during games, condensing pregame meetings to a maximum of 10 minutes and requiring individuals who regularly visit players or staff members’ homes to be tested for COVID-19 twice a week.
The NBA plans for the All-Star Game to help historically Black colleges and universities with COVID-19 relief and vaccine education. Despite the league’s attempt to help HBCUs, players are still reluctant to play due to fatigue, family related issues and the risk of contracting the virus.
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