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Eric WoodyardESPN
LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo could be competitors at rival conferences, but they share the same sentiments regarding the league’s plans to play an All-Star game in March in Atlanta.
Following a 33-point performance and 12 rebounds in Milwaukee’s 123-105 victory in Cleveland on Friday night, Antetokounmpo defended James’ position on the game in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I think every player was looking forward to those five days, seven days, whatever the days. We all have to follow the big dog,” Antetokounmpo said, referring to James. “The big dog says he has zero excitement and zero energy for the All-Star game and they’re the same. Right now I don’t care about the All-Star game. We can’t see our families.”
“I can’t worry about playing with the stars. I want to see my family. I want to go see my younger brother in Spain, I want my brother to come and see me,” he added. he. “So I’m the same. I have zero energy, zero emotion. At the end of the day, if they tell us we’re going to show up, we have to do our job. I’m always going to do my job, they always show up, setting the right example. But at the end of the day in inside, deep down, I don’t want to do it. I want to take a break. “
Antetokounmpo was second behind Brook Durant in Brooklyn, on the field in front of the Eastern Conference, in the first returns of NBA All-Star fans.
The current MVP and Defensive Player of the Year has played in the last four All-Star games, citing his 2020 experience in Chicago as “very fun for fans.”
“At the end of the day, if we have the All-Star game, I hope fans can be there and we can give them back,” Antetokounmpo said. “At the end of the day, if we have the All-Star Game just to have the All-Star Game and we don’t have fans, I don’t see the point in having the All-Star Game.”
Before the Bucks-Cavaliers tipoff, Milwaukee arrived in Cleveland on the day of the game due to mechanical problems with the team’s plane on Thursday night. The Bucks landed in Cleveland Friday morning.
Players learned to adapt to these types of situations while playing through the pandemic and mostly empty arenas.
Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer sighed before commenting on the All-Star Game, saying, “I completely understand there are a lot of worries and I share them.”
Antetokounmpo, like James, said he felt the league would not hold the annual showcase until reports to the contrary began. He said he would rather use the time to unwind from basketball than compete that night.
“I thought about the fact that obviously it will come in the season, where we knew it wasn’t going to be an All-Star Game, it was going to be a time to spend time with our family,” Antetokounmpo said. “Obviously, when the protocol changes it’s a bit difficult, because on the road, your family can’t come on the road. You can’t leave the house back home, you can just go to the practice office or the arena and you don’t have time to go. family to a nice dinner or your family coming on the road or just to get away from the game. “