Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
No participant in All-Star events; Adebayo won’t defend Skills title
A year after a dominant presence at All-Star Weekend 2020 in Chicago, the Miami Heat apparently will go dormant during the upcoming 2021 event Sunday in Atlanta.
With the Heat bypassed in Tuesday’s selections for the league’s skills competitions, it means there will be no representation from the 2020 Eastern Conference champions.
With logistics amid the coronavirus pandemic a factor, center Bam Adebayo will not return to defend the Skills Challenge championship he won last February at Chicago’s United Center. Adebayo was the Heat’s fourth winner of the event, with the Dwyane Wade winning previously in 2006, ‘07 and ‘08.
Duncan Robinson, who went out in the first round of last year’s Three-Point Shootout, was not invited to return.
Both the Skills Challenge and Three-Point Shootout are scheduled for immediately before Sunday night’s All-Star Game.
The Heat also will not have a participant in the Sam Dunk contest, which was won last season by Heat forward Derrick Jones Jr. Jones, who moved on to the Portland Trail Blazers in free agency, bypassed the opportunity to defend his title. This year’s dunk contest will be held at halftime of the All-Star Game.
With All-Star Weekend reduced to a single day, the league is going without the Rising Stars Challenge for first- and second-year players, but will select teams according to the previous USA vs. World format, with that announcement scheduled for Wednesday.
The Heat’s Kendrick Nunn and Tyler Herro were selected for last year’s game, which was played the Friday of All-Star Weekend, with Herro unable to participate due to injury.
Neither Adebayo nor Jimmy Butler were selected as All-Stars, after being selected last year.
The last time the Heat did not have a participant in All-Star Weekend was 2017, the season Wade left the Heat for the Chicago Bulls.
The Heat still could have a participant added should injuries impact the rosters for the events.
The Heat will be idle for the All-Star break after Thursday’s road game against the New Orleans Pelicans until a March 11 game against the Orlando Magic at American Airlines Arena.
Participating in this year’s Skill Challenge: Robert Covington, Luka Doncic, Chris Paul, Julius Randle, Nikola Vucevic, Domantas Sabonis.
Participating in the Slam Dunk: Anfernee Simons, Cassius Stanley, Obi Toppin.
Participating in the Three-Point Shootout: Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Devin Booker, Stephen Curry, Zach LaVine, Donovan Mitchell.