LeBron James Says All-Star Game in Atlanta is A ‘Slap In the Face’ To Players

When addressing the NBA’s plans to hold an All-Star Game in Atlanta in March despite the coronavirus pandemic, LeBron James did not hold back.

“I have zero energy and zero excitement about this year’s All-Star Game,” James said after Thursday’s 114-93 Los Angeles Lakers victory over the Denver Nuggets. “I don’t understand why we have an All-Star Game, either.”

He told reporters: “Short offseason for myself and my teammates. It was 71 days. And then, coming into this season, we were told that we were not having an All-Star Game, so we’d have a nice little break. Adding that “Five days (in March) from the fifth through the 10th, an opportunity for me to kind of recalibrate for the second half of the season—my teammates as well, some of the guys in the league. And then they throw an All-Star Game on us like this and just breaks that all the way up. So, um, pretty much kind of a slap in the face.”

James then referenced the health concerns with playing a game in Atlanta, saying that “We’re also still dealing with a pandemic.” He said, “We’re still dealing with everything that’s been going on, and we’re going to bring the whole league into one city that’s open? Obviously, the pandemic has absolutely nothing to do with it at this point when it comes to that weekend.”

Adding that “Obviously, you guys can see that I’m not very happy about it, but it’s out of my hands. I’ll be there if I’m selected. But I’ll be there physically, but not mentally.”

James is not the only player who is unhappy with the decision to stage an All-Star game.

Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox said to reporters on Thursday night, “If I’m going to be brutally honest, I think it’s stupid,” “If we have to wear a mask and do all of this for a regular game, then what’s the point of bringing the All-Star Game back?”

The All-Star weekend was originally expected to take place in Indianapolis, but the city will now host the 2024 festivities in November, confirmed by the NBA and Indiana Pacers, because “public health conditions” made it difficult to host a proper fan-focused gathering.