The NBA officially announced its plans for the 2021 All-Star Game on Thursday afternoon. As previously reported, the star-studded display will take place on March 7 in Atlanta, in the Hawks’ home arena. This has been growing for weeks and something that was not originally expected to happen. The league previously canceled the 2021 event, which was supposed to be held in Indianapolis, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NBA decided before the start of the season to award Indianapolis with the 2024 All-Star Game and complete 2020-21 without the event. .
However, after several conversations between the league and the National Basketball Players Association, the two sides reached an agreement to hold an event that will be different from any previous All-Star Game. For the first time in league history, the All-Star Game and each of the other landmark events will be held on the same day. The Skill Challenge and the 3 Point Contest will take place before the start of the All-Star Game, with the Slam Dunk Contest taking place during the break.
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The format will again follow last year’s game format using “Elam Ending”, with the two teams competing to win each of the first three quarters, which will have 12 minutes each. For the fourth period, the clock will be turned off and a scoring goal will be set, and the team that reaches that goal first wins the game. Also similar to last season, the league will honor Kobe Bryant by taking into account 24 points in the final score, according to Atlético’s Shams Charania.
The All-Star starters, as well as the captains of the two teams, will be announced on Thursday night, followed by an All-Star Draft, where the captains will choose their own teams, similar to the past two years.
Players and the league will use this All-Star Game as an opportunity to highlight the importance of HBCU’s, while addressing the impact of COVID-19 on color communities across the country. The NBA and NBPA have also committed 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 will require daily testing from all players, staff and anyone else present at the festivities. To ensure that the event is safe, the league said that no fans will be present at this year’s All-Star Game, and that there will be no additional events around Atlanta for fans to attend the main event together.
Each player who participates in the All-Star Game or any of the skill challenges will be able to bring up to four family members, close friends or their agent, as well as a coach during their stay in Atlanta.