The 2021 NBA All-Star game might go down in history as one of the… strangest All-Star games in league history. Many of these changes and oddities can be attributed to COVID-19. For example, two All-Stars, Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, could not participate due to COVID health and safety protocols. COVID also interfered with the schedule causing the Rising Stars game to be cancelled and the Skills Challenge, the 3-Point Contest, and Slam Dunk Contest to all be held the same day as the All-Star game.

Coming off of last year’s game, many fans were very underwhelmed this year. Many were hoping for a high intensity game where the players looked like they wanted to win. However, it seemed like many players were just going through the motions. In fact, many players talked about how having an All-Star game is a bad idea and dangerous due to COVID-19. LeBron James even stated “I will be there physically but not mentally.” LeBron would go on to online play 13 minutes in the All-Star game and only score 4 points.

His first pick in the All-Star, Giannis Antetokounmpo came to play and he delivered. Scoring 35 points on 100% from the field and 3-3 from deep. That performance earned him All-Star MVP. Stephen Curry and Damian Lillard also put on a show, scoring 28 and 32 points respectively. Curry shot 10-19 on the floor and 8-16 from 3 and Lillard went 11-20, 8 of those shots came from behind the 3-point arc.