“I can’t worry about the All-Star Game. I want to see my family. I want to go see my little brother in Spain, I want my brother to come see me… At the end of the day inside, deep down, I don’t want to do it. I want to get some break.” Milwaukee Bucks player Giannis Akunkposaid this when addressed about his feelings about playing in the 2021 NBA All-Star Game.  

The game, which was played on Sunday, is supposed to include a full weekend of festivities where the best players in the NBA come together to play against each other and showcase their skills. It is supposed to be a fun event for the players to play alongside their usual opponents and have fun with some of their close friends on the court. Since the players were not as excited for the game this year and it is keeping them away from a much-needed break to relieve some of the stress that the pandemic has brought, I believe that the game should not have happened. 

Additionally, the game brought together players from all over the country, something that is not the best thing to do in terms of safety from COVID-19. It adds an unnecessary risk for the players and seems to show that the NBA values revenue over the players’ welfare. 

The NBA has already forced the players to make large commitments throughout the past year. When the season resumed after the postponement due to the pandemic, all the players were required to live and play in a bubble in Orlando, without seeing family or friends for several months. Also, there was a shorter offseason for the players so they had less time to spend back at home with their families before this season started. 

The players were flexible in these decisions and went along with the NBA’s requirements. Since the players were willing to sacrifice their safety and rest earlier this year for the benefit of the organization, the NBA should have cut them some slack and listened to the players’ concerns about playing in a game that was virtually meaningless. 

Furthermore, one of the benefits of a normal All-Star Game is that it is good for the host city since people travel to enjoy the atmosphere of the weekend. This was not the case last weekend, with there being minimal capacity at the game and no parallel festivities for the fans. This year, only the NBA benefited from having the game, and it was disappointing to see them prioritize themselves over the players and fans.