The NBA officially announced its plans for the All-Star Game 2021 on Thursday afternoon. As previously reported, the star-studded exhibit will be held on March 7 in Atlanta in the Hawks’ home arena. It’s been building for weeks, and something that originally would not have happened at all. The league had previously canceled the 2021 event, which was to be held in Indianapolis, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NBA decided before the season began to award Indianapolis with the 2024 All-Star Game and complete 2020 -21 without event.
However, after several talks between the league and the National Basketball Players Association, the two parties agreed to set up an event that would not be like an All-Star Game before. For the first time in league history, the All-Star Game and each of the other exhibitions are held on the same day. The Skills Challenge and 3-Point game will take place before the start of the All-Star Game, while the Slam Dunk game will take place during halftime.
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The format will again follow last year’s game format with the “Elam Ending”, with the two teams competing to win each of the first three quarters, each lasting 12 minutes. For the fourth quarter, the clock is turned off and a target score is set, and whichever team achieves the target point wins the match. The league, also similar to last season, will honor Kobe Bryant by taking 24 on the final target score, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
All-Star starters, as well as captains of the two teams, will be announced Thursday night, followed by an All-Star concept, where the captains will select their own teams, similar to the past two years.
The players and the league will use this All-Star Game as an opportunity to highlight the importance of HBCUs, while also addressing the impact of COVID-19 on color communities across the country. The NBA and NBPA have also pledged more than $ 2.5 million to support HBCUs as well as communities affected by COVID-19.
The league will try to create a ‘mini-bubble’ around the All-Star Game, and it will have to be tested daily by all players, team staff and anyone else who will attend the festivities. To ensure the event is safe, the league said no fans will attend this year’s All-Star Game, and that there will be no additional events in the Atlanta area for fans to attend the main event. do not live.
Each player participating in the All-Star Game or any skill challenge may bring up to four family members, close friends or their agent, as well as a coach for the duration of their stay in Atlanta.