2021 NBA All-Star Game: League Reveals Game Details and Skills Events March 7 in Atlanta

The NBA officially announced its plans for the 2021 All-Star Game on Thursday afternoon. As previously reported, the star-studded exhibit will be held on March 7 in Atlanta at the Hawks Arena. It’s been building for weeks, and something that was originally not planned at all. The league previously canceled the 2021 event, which was supposed to be held in Indianapolis, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NBA decided before the start of the season to award Indianapolis the 2024 All-Star Game and to end 2020-21 without the an event.

However, after several conversations between the league and the National Basketball Players Association, the two sides have come to an agreement to host an event that will not be like any All-Star Game before it. For the first time in league history, the All-Star Game and each of the other landmark events will take place on the same day. The Skill Challenge and 3-Point Contest will take place before the start of the All-Star Game, with the Slam Dunk Contest taking place at half-time.

The format will again follow last year’s game format using the “Elam Ending”, with the two teams competing to win each of the first three quarters, which will last 12 minutes each. For the fourth quarter, the timer will be off and a target score will be set, and the team that reaches that score first will win the game. Also similar to last season, the league will honor Kobe Bryant by factoring in 24 in the final target score, according to Athletic’s Shams Charania.

The All-Star starters, along with the captains of both teams, will be announced Thursday night, followed by an All-Star Draft, where the captains will select their own teams, like the last two years.

Players and the league will use this All-Star Game as an opportunity to highlight the importance of HBCUs, while also addressing the impact of COVID-19 on communities of color across the country. The NBA and NBPA have also pledged over $ 2.5 million to support HBCUs as well as communities affected by COVID-19.

The league will attempt to create a “mini bubble” around the All-Star Game, and will require daily testing of all players, team staff and anyone else who will be present for the festivities. To ensure the safety of the event, the league said no fans will be in attendance for this year’s All-Star Game and that there will be no additional events in the surrounding Atlanta area for that fans can attend the main event.

Each player participating in the All-Star Game or one of the skills challenges will be allowed to bring up to four family members, close friends or their agent, as well as a coach for the duration of their stay in Atlanta. .