NBA All-Star Weekend: Pandemic Edition
It has been over a year since Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert contracted COVID-19, and the NBA shut the league down indefinitely. Due to the pandemic, the league has had to create a tremendous amount of precautions to stay afloat and make sure no player contracts the virus However, the NBA has been one of the most successful leagues in handling the COVID-19 pandemic. In the first half of the 2020-2021 season, the league had been reducing the virus' spread by having no fans, COVID-19 tests every day, enforcing social distancing between players whenever they are not playing, mandatory masks, and even being restrictive towards jersey swaps. But as the pandemic continues, players are still concerned about contracting the virus. Resultantly, it was an enormous shock when Commissioner Adam Silver announced an All-Star Weekend this year, as this did not sit well with many high-profile players such as LeBron James and De'Aaron Fox. According to LeBron James “I have zero energy and zero excitement about an All-Star Game this year,” James said. “I don't even understand why we're having an All-Star Game,” De’Aaron added to this trend by saying “If I'm gonna be brutally honest, I think it's stupid," "If we have to wear masks and do all this for a regular game, then what's the point of bringing the All-Star Game back? But obviously, money makes the world go 'round. It is what it is."
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver discussing the 2021 All Star Game and how it would be differently structured this year.
Due to COVID-19, an entire long weekend’s worth of events would be consolidated into one night. Rather than holding the skills challenge, 3-point contest, and slam dunk contest on Saturday night, as it typically does, the NBA had the skills challenge and 3-point contest take place before the game started at 8 p.m. and held the slam dunk contest at halftime. There additionally would only be fans from nearby HBCUs and players' guests. Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms effectively asked fans not to assemble for the All-Star Game or visit the city. Silver repeated that assessment, saying there will be nothing for fans to do in Atlanta the few days of the game. Each player brought a maximum of four family members, friends, or agents. They were permitted to get a trainer that focuses on not just physical but mental strength as well to help players prepare for the game.
In regard to actions taken to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, the NBA required players to self-isolate at home from February 27 until they left for Atlanta on March 6. Players had to remain at the All-Star hotel while in Atlanta outside of when they took part in All-Star events. Players and their guests received private transportation to and from the game, notwithstanding regular PCR testing. The same player visitors went through routine PCR testing up to the actual game. As happened a year ago, each quarter will begin at 0-0, with the two teams contending to win every one for assigned foundations. The teams played the final quarter until either got to the point total, which equated to the leading team in addition to 24 extra points in honor of the late Kobe Bryant.
I think the NBA did a great job of handling All-Star Weekend. They did a great job in making the game COVID-19 safe while at the same time making sure all the various All-Star events were incorporated. Watching the events throughout the weekend I noticed how jam-packed everything was. Every little detail had to be executed according to plan or else the weekend would not work. The majority of players were satisfied with the altercations made for the weekend. Some players were reluctant at first due to not having their family there, but once they found out their immediate family was allowed to attend they surely were content.