A day after LeBron James criticized the NBA’s decision to play an All-Star game this season amid the coronavirus pandemic, two-time reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo reflected James’ sentiments, saying he had no sense of it does not see an All-Star game without fans.
“The Big Dog (LeBron James) says he has no excitement, no energy for the All-Star Game. I’m the same way,” Antetokounmpo said on Friday. “I really don’t care about the All-Star Game right now. I got no energy, no excitement.”
The Milwaukee Bucks forward becomes the youngest player to criticize the All-Star Game, following James, who spoke out Thursday, and De’Aaron Fox, waiting for the Sacramento Kings, who said an All-Star game this season was ‘kind of stupid’ during the pandemic.
“I do not even know why we are going to play an All-Star game,” James said after the Lakers’ 114-93 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Thursday.
James went on to call it “quite a slap in the face” after the NBA decided it was not going to be a game. Despite concerns about the coronavirus, the NBA and NBAPA reached an agreement this week to hold the All-Star Game on March 7 in Atlanta, sources told Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Antetokounmpo said that if necessary, he will turn up the match because that is his job.
“I always do my job. I always show up and set the right example,” Antetokounmpo said. “But at the end of the day, inside, I don’t want to do it. I want to get a break.”
After the loss of the LA Clippers against the Boston Celtics on Friday, Kawhi Leonard was blunt about why the All-Star game is being played.
“We all know why we play it,” Leonard said. “It’s money at stake. It’s the opportunity to make more money. Just putting money on health is just nice.”