Team LeBron defeated Team Giannis 170-150 to win the 2021 National Basketball Association All-Star Game from State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. Even though the exhibition event took place and funds went to charities, the fact that it even happened was considered very questionable. That is because there have been 1,024,931 cases of coronavirus in Georgia, with 17,948 deaths.
To date, the NBA has been described as a leader in professional sports in taking coronavirus seriously. However, having the NBA All-Star Game take place this year when the game is completely meaningless needs to be questioned and criticized. The National Hockey League needs to be praised for not having a game an All-Star Game this season when there are still 8,762,203 active cases of coronavirus in the United States. Having regular season games and playoffs in the NBA are important. This exhibition event was not and had 10 000 times less meaning than the 2021 Tim Hortons Brier in Calgary (the Canadian National Men’s Curling Championship), which took place at the same time.
Paul George of the Los Angeles Clippers needs to be praised for his comments opposing the All-Star Game, but he could have shown stronger leadership and refused to play in the game. He finished the contest with 17 points in 20 minutes.
Giannis Antetokounmpo was the game’s most valuable player. The forward from Athens, Greece had a game-high 35 points. LeBron James meanwhile struggled as he only had four points from two made field goals. Australian native Kyrie Irving of the Brooklyn Nets was the only player in the game to record a double-double as he had 24 points and 12 assists.
Meanwhile, Joel Embiid and fellow Australian native Ben Simmons of the Philadelphia 76ers missed the NBA All-Star Game because their barber in Philadelphia tested positive for coronavirus. It will be interesting when they will be back in the lineup with the 76ers when the season resumes.
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