De’Aaron Fox, guard for the Sacramento Kings, apparently does not support the NBA having an All-Star game this season, saying that it is ‘stupid’ for the league to have the event in the middle of the COVID 19 pandemic.
Sources told ESPN earlier this week that the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association were working on an agreement for an All-Star Game on March 7 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.
Asked on Wednesday night if he had heard of the All-Star Game possibly returning, Fox indicated that the league’s decision was financially driven.
“If I’m going to be brutally honest, I think it’s stupid,” Fox said after leading the Kings to a win over the Boston Celtics. ‘If we have to wear a mask and do it all for a regular game, then what’s the point in bringing back the All-Star Game?
“Obviously money makes the world go round, so that’s what it is.”
Despite his reference to the NBA’s coronavirus-related protocols, Fox said he was “not really worried” about playing in the All-Star Game if selected.
“If I’m enrolled, then so be it,” he said.
Fox (23) had an excellent season with the Kings, scoring 22.3 points and 6.6 assists per game. He was not one of the top 10 guards of the Western Conference in the initial statement on fans announced on Thursday.
Fox was also asked on Wednesday night if he would choose to play in the game if he were selected for the Western Conference list.
“You know you’ll get a fine – if you want to be there and not get hurt and you decide not to play, it’s a hefty fine,” he said. “So hell yes, I’ll play in it.”