Neither Joel Embiid nor Ben Simmons will play in the game after contract tracing revealed that a barber in Philadelphia who cut their hair tested positive for COVID-19, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.com reports.
Sixers coach Doc Rivers, who is coaching in the event, said he wasn’t sure whether or not the two players will have to remain in Atlanta until they are permitted to play again.
“I would feel more for them if they had COVID,” Rivers told FortyEightMinutes.com and other reporters via zoom. “They get to make the team still, and they’re on the team … But you want to play and them being in a jersey.”
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More From The NBA’s All-Star Game in Atlanta
- Bradley Beal on why the players are alright with attending the All-Star game: “Honestly, it
- James Harden on the league holding the All-Star game: “This whole season has been tough. A lot of craziness has happened throughout the year.”
- Mike Conley, who was a last minute replacement for Devin Booker, is escatic to be participating in the game. Conley told the media that when he got the call from the league, he thought it was just for the 3-point contest, and he would have been happy with just that. Upon realizing that he’s been invited to both, he was even happier.
- Kyrie Irving has an 11:00 am ET scheduled zoom call with the media. He didn’t attend.
- Kawhi Leonard said “the city of Atlanta is turned up” but this year’s game doesn’t have the same feel as years past.
