Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo – ‘Don’t care about the All-Star Game’

LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo is perhaps opponents in rival conferences, however they share the identical sentiments relating to the league’s plans to carry an All-Star Sport in March in Atlanta.

Contemporary off a 33-point, 12-rebound efficiency in Milwaukee’s 123-105 win at Cleveland on Friday night time, Antetokounmpo backed James’ place on the sport occurring within the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I feel each participant was wanting ahead to these 5 days, seven days, regardless of the days are. We have got to all observe the large canine,” Antetokounmpo mentioned, referring to James. “The large canine says he has zero pleasure and nil vitality for the All-Star Sport, and I am the identical approach. I actually proper now do not care concerning the All-Star Sport. We can’t see our households.”

“Like, I can not fear concerning the All-Star Sport. I need to see my household. I need to go see my little brother in Spain, I need my brother to come back see me,” he added. “So, I am the identical approach. I’ve bought zero vitality, zero pleasure. On the finish of the day, in the event that they inform us we’re gonna present up, we have got to do our job. I am all the time gonna do my job, I am all the time displaying up, displaying the correct instance. However on the finish of the day inside, deep down, I do not need to do it. I need to get some break.”

Antetokounmpo’s remarks got here a day after James criticized the league’s All-Star Sport plans. Different stars spoke out in opposition to the sport Friday, together with the Brooklyn Nets‘ James Harden and the LA Clippers‘ Kawhi Leonard.

Antetokounmpo was second behind Brooklyn’s Kevin Durant within the Jap Convention’s frontcourt within the first fan returns of NBA All-Star voting.

The reigning back-to-back MVP and Defensive Participant of the 12 months has performed up to now 4 All-Star Video games, citing his 2020 expertise in Chicago as being “very enjoyable for the followers.”

“On the finish of the day, if we have now the All-Star Sport, I hope followers will be there and we can provide again to them,” Antetokounmpo mentioned. “On the finish of the day, if we have now the All-Star Sport simply to have the All-Star Sport and don’t have any followers, I do not see the purpose of getting the All-Star Sport.”

Antetokounmpo, like James, mentioned he was beneath the impression that the league would not maintain the yearly showcase till reviews indicating in any other case started to floor. He mentioned he would a lot slightly use the time to decompress from basketball slightly than competing on that night time.

“I considered it clearly coming into the season, the place all we knew it was not going to be an All-Star Sport, it was going to be a time to spend time with our household,” Antetokounmpo mentioned. “Clearly, when the protocol modifications it is sort of onerous as a result of on the highway, your loved ones can’t come on the highway. Again dwelling you can not go away the home, you solely can go to the follow facility or to the world and you do not have time to take your loved ones to a pleasant dinner or your loved ones approaching the highway or like simply escaping the sport.”

“Guys are entitled to their emotions, selections and the whole lot. I feel the job for the union is strive to ensure our gamers are wholesome and secure. That is one thing that was a call by the league, and we’re positively, day in and day trip, attempting to determine it out. However we have now 450 gamers that we’re all the time attempting to get perception from, and it is robust, so we are attempting to determine it out proper now.”

Harden on Friday night time mentioned he feels “the identical approach” concerning the All-Star Sport as stars similar to Antetokounmpo and James.

“There’s a lot occurring as far we’re attempting to calm the virus down — and we’re placing on an occasion, ?” Harden mentioned. “I do know what the reasoning is for, however I really feel like, particularly with a condensed schedule, it seems like the whole lot was compelled upon gamers. It is already draining to be enjoying loads of video games in every week. I really feel like that was every week for us to sort of calm down, be with our households and sort of take a step again away from basketball.”

Leonard mentioned the league’s choice is a matter of valuing “cash over well being.”

“I imply, everyone knows why we’re enjoying it. You realize, there’s cash on the road,” he mentioned. “It is alternative to make more cash. … Simply placing cash over well being proper now, just about. Yeah, we’re enjoying video games now, and it’s nonetheless a pandemic. We’re doing all these protocols and guidelines, so it does not actually shock me.”

Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul, who’s president of the gamers’ union, responded Friday to unfavorable feedback made by gamers concerning the All-Star Sport. He mentioned he has had latest discussions with gamers similar to James and Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry and acknowledged the issue of the league’s schedule and being away from household.

“We get on calls and we attempt to determine it out with totally different conditions of men who’ve been enjoying loads of video games who have not actually had a lot of breaks,” Paul mentioned. “I am positive I am not the one man within the league that lives with out their household, so guys have a look at that break as a possibility to see their households.”

Paul added: “The union has all the time bought the total physique of gamers in thoughts. However feelings occur, guys have emotions and also you gotta be capable of specific them, and I respect that.”