Philadelphia 76ers stars Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons were ruled out of the 2021 NBA All-Star Game Sunday night after the two players were in contact with an individual who tested positive for COVID-19 in Philadelphia. the league announced Sunday. After the game is just a few hours away, no player will be replaced in the case, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The person who tested positive was apparently a barber used by both Embiid and Simmons. After an insignificant initial test, the hairdresser was tested again, and the result also came back positive.
Embiid and Simmons both traveled to Atlanta on Saturday night and have since been quarantined in their respective rooms. At this stage, it is not entirely clear how long they will have to remain in quarantine. Given the fact that players from a variety of markets will play in the game, the league does not want to take any risks.
Embiid was selected as a starter for the annual exhibition for the fourth consecutive season, while Simmons was selected as a reserve for the third consecutive year. In the All-Star draft for the match, Embiid was selected to play for Team Durant, while Simmons was selected to play for Team LeBron. Embiid’s place in the starting line-up for Team Durant is Zion Williamson, by Wojnarowski.
On Saturday, Embiid announced that he would donate his earnings from the All-Star game to homeless shelters in Philadelphia.
“So many have fallen during such a difficult time during the pandemic,” Embiid said in a statement. “I felt it was important to provide more support to individuals and families struggling with homelessness and food insecurity. I am constantly grateful for all the support Philadelphia and its supporters have given me, not just around All-Star, but also all my years in I will continue to help in any way I can. ‘
The fact that Embiid and Simmons are sidelined for the event is unfortunate for the fans who were excited to see the top two players in Philadelphia compete against the rest of the best in the league. The Sixers must now hope that their two stars will stay healthy themselves and not have to miss the regular season action when the second half resumes. Philadelphia’s first game after the break is against the Chicago Bulls on Thursday, March 11th.