All-Star Game nobody wanted

League, players making most of limited weekend

ATLANTA — It’s the NBA All-Star Game almost no one seemed to want.

Certainly not the players, who scoffed at the notion of playing an exhibition game in the midst of a pandemic.

The city of Atlanta, picked as a replacement for original host Indianapolis, didn’t seem so thrilled with the idea, either.

The mayor urged fans to stay away from an event renowned for wild parties and packed streets. Police scheduled 12hour shifts and canceled off days in an attempt to crack down on any events that could lead to a surge of COVID-19 cases.

But the league pressed forward, eager to improve its bottom line and its brand by televising the popular midseason showcase.

The NBA’s best will take the court Sunday in a one-nightonly, hastily arranged event at mostly empty State Farm Arena,

where only a limited number of invited guests will be allowed to watch in person.

“All-Star is part of our league. It’s no different than all the other games we play,” Commissioner Adam Silver said. “It begins and ends with the fans. This is an event the fans love to see. They love to see the players come together.

“But, nothing comes without controversy in a pandemic.”

Now that it’s game on, LeBron James is trying to make the best of the situation, using the All-Star platform to carry on with his efforts to expand voting rights — a fitting gesture with the game being held in a state that was one of the focal points of the 2020 election.

Some things to watch for Sunday:

Team LeBron vs. Team Durant

This will be the fourth straight year to feature a format where the two top vote-getters serve as captains and draft their teams from the All-Star selections.

James has handled the duties all four times, going 3-0 in his previous stints — including last year’s 157-155 thriller in Chicago. Brooklyn’s Kevin Durant got the nod for the first time, though he won’t be able to play because of an ailing hamstring.

Mad skillz

With only one night to get in all the events, two competitions will be held shortly before the All-Star Game tipoff.

The Skills Challenge, a test of ball-handling, passing and shootingy, will feature Doncic, Portland’s Robert Covington, Chris Paul of the Suns, Julius Randle of the Knicks, Indiana’s Domantas Sabonis, and Nikola Vucevic of the Magic.

Taking part in the 3-point shooting contest are Curry, Tatum, Boston’s Jaylen Brown, Zach LaVine of the Bulls, and a pair of Utah guards, Donovan Mitchell and Mike Conley. .

High flyers

The Slam Dunk showdown will take place at halftime between Portland’s Anfernee Simons and a pair of rookies: New York’s Obi Toppin and Indiana’s Cassius Stanley.