The NBA has yet to reach a decision on whether their will be an All-Star Game in 2021, but All-Star voting will begin Thursday just in case.
So at the very least, the league will have 2021 All-Stars. As for the actual game, the league and players’ union are still discussing possibility.
It was originally scheduled for Indianapolis in February. But given the circumstances surrounding COVID-19, that was postponed. If there is a game this year, it would likely be held in Atlanta, as reported by Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
Voting will close at the end of the day on Tuesday, Feb. 16, with TNT revealing the All-Star starters two days later. TNT will will announce the All-Star reserves on Tuesday, Feb. 23. Reserves are selected by NBA coaches.
“There are 12 players that have an All-Star bonus in their contract (either as a starter or reserve),” ESPN’s Bobby Marks wrote. “Notable names that have over $1M include Jaylen Brown, Domantas Sabonis, Rudy Gobert and Julius Randle.”
Cleveland is scheduled to host next year’s All-Star Weekend.
For now, the league is talking with the union about the possibility of holding the game March 7. Atlanta may make the most sense, as Woj relayed, because it is the home of Turner Sports, which holds broadcast rights to All-Star Weekend.
“NBPA president Chris Paul of the Phoenix Suns has been a proponent of the idea, which would allow for a game to financially benefit historically Black colleges and universities and COVID-19 relief,” Wojnaorwski wrote.
The NBA’s midseason break is scheduled for March 5-10, so sliding in an All-Star Game during that break could be a possibility.
