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U.S. media reported that the league and its
players union had agreed to hold the annual exhibition event in
Atlanta on March 7, with an official announcement expected this
week.
"I have zero energy and zero excitement about an All-Star Game
this year," James told reporters after Thursday's 114-93 victory
over Denver Nuggets. "I don't even understand why we're having
an All-Star Game, but it's the agreement.
"Coming into this season, we were told that we were not having
an All-Star Game, so we'd have a nice little break ... an
opportunity for me to kind of recalibrate for the second half of
the season.
"Then they throw an All-Star Game on us like this, it's pretty
much kind of a slap in the face. We're still dealing with a
pandemic, with everything that's been going on, and we're going
to bring the whole league into a city that's still open."
James, a 16-time All-Star, was among the leading vote-getters in
the first round of fan voting and said he would be there in body
.
"I'll be there physically if I'm selected. I'll be there
physically, but not mentally," the four-times NBA champion said.
Sacramento Kings guard De'Aaron Fox said it was "stupid" to try
to hold the game.
"If we have to wear a mask and do all of this for a regular
game, then what's the point of bringing the All-Star Game back?"
he said. "Obviously, money makes the world go round, so it is
what it is."
(Reporting by Arvind Sriram in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter
Rutherford)
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