76ers duo held out of NBA’S all-star festivities

The NBA didn’t even get to the actual all-star game before they hit their first snag.

Philadelphia 76ers all-stars Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons both missed Sunday night’s game after tracing revealed the pair were in contact with a Philadelphia barber who has tested positive prior to their departure.

Embiid and Simmons flew privately to Atlanta and in conjunction with league protocols were still in their mini-quarantine process when their possible exposure was revealed, so none of the other participants were affected.

The league’s decision to go ahead with the game has been criticized by players and some team owners. Los Angeles Clippers forward Paul George reiterated his stance that he didn’t think the game should have been held in the current environment during his media availability on Sunday morning.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver, meanwhile, said despite those criticisms holding the event was important for the league’s global brand and the economics of the league and its media partners.

“The fact is this is our No. 1 fan-engagement event of the year,” Silver said. “Because we went forward with all-star, not only did roughly 100 million people vote for the all-stars on a global basis, but based on past ratings, well over 100 million people will watch the game and the ancillary competitions. We’ll have over a billion social media views and engagements.

“It’s sort of what we do. For me, it would have been a bigger deal not to have it.”

Meanwhile, Silver said he’s not aware of a player who has been vaccinated but that some of the more senior coaches in the league and medical staff have been.

Silver said there’s no plan to make vaccination mandatory. He said just like any citizen, the players have the right to make their own decision.

Silver said there’s an incentive for those playing in the league to get vaccinated using the example of a vaccinated player not having to quarantine should he be deemed a close contact. As it stands now, an unvaccinated player has to quarantine as soon as he’s deemed a close contact to someone with the virus.