Silver says NBA watching states’ equality policies Pelicans’ Davis scores record 52 points, earns MVP honors
NEW ORLEANS — The NBA is continuing to monitor how states are handling laws regarding the protections of transgender people, with Commissioner Adam Silver warning that any lessthanpolicies will help the league decide where to hold All-Star Games going forward.
Silver, in his annual state-of-the-league address at All-Star Saturday night, said he has spoken with North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper— whose state was originally set to host this All-Star weekend — about the controversial and divisive HB2 law, one that the recently elected Cooper has said he wants repealed.
And for other states considering similar measures, Silver said the NBA willwatch them aswell.
“Our values, our leaguewide values in terms of equality and inclusion are paramount to this league and all the members of the NBA family, and I think those jurisdictions that are considering legislation similar to HB2 are on notice that that is an important factor for us,” Silver said. “Those values are an important factor for us in deciding where we take a special event like an AllStar Game.”
Texas is considering a bill that would be similar to HB2. Its version is known as SB6, with top Republicans in that state recently unveiling a proposal that would ban transgender people from using the bathroom of their choice.
It is one of many issues drawing the attention of both the league and its players, with many NBA stars — including LeBron James — speaking out repeatedly of late about the need for equality in society.
Next year’s All-Star weekendis in Los Angeles. Texas last hosted an AllStarweekend in 2013.
“I’m not ready to draw bright lines,” Silver said. “Clearly, though, the laws of the state, ordinances and cities are a factor we look at in deciding where to play our All- Star Games.”
Silver also addressed another particularly divisive issue facing the country these days, the executive order signed by President Donald Trump that bans travel from seven predominantly Muslim nations.
One of the seven nations affected by the order is Sudan, the homeland of NBA players Luol Deng and ThonMaker.
“It goes against the fundamental values and the fundamental ingredients of what make for a great NBA, and that is the very best in the world coming here,” Silver said.
In other matters by Silver on night:
INTERNATIONAL PLAYERS: Silver is particularly pleased with the increase in international players in the league, noting that it’s now up to about 25 percent — and almost certain to continue rising.
“If you look at last year’s draft, nearly 50 percent of the players in our tworound draft were born outside of the United States as well,” Silver said. “So as this game becomes more global and the competition increases for these jobs around the world, itmakes these positions in the NBA that much more coveted.”
AFRICA GAME: The NBA announced earlier Saturday that it will play another Africa Game in Johannesburg this summer, and Silver said that enhancing presence on that continent is of particular importance to the league going forward.
“We’re extraordinarily motivated to grow the game in Africa,” Silver said. “We have 14 current NBA players that were born in Africa and many others who have a parent thatwas born in Africa.” addressed Saturday
NEW ORLEANS — Anthony Davis had an All-Star Game for the record books.
Andona nightwhenRussell Westbrook and Kevin Durant provided a glimpse of the past, Giannis Antetokounmposhowedhe’s clearly part of the future and amidcourt lob attempt from JamesHarden evenwent in, Davis absolutely stole the show.
He scored 52 points, 10 more than Wilt Chamberlain’s All-Star record that had stood for 55 years, and the Western Conference beat the Eastern Conference, 192-182, on Sunday night — the highest-scoring game in league history.
Davis made 26 shots and took 39, both of those also All-Star records. He even outdidWestbrook, who had 41 points in just 20 minutes — which ordinarily would have been enough to merit himwhatwouldhavebeena third straightMVPaward.
Not this time. It was Davis hoisting the trophy, to the delight of his New Orleans fans.
“Itwas a lot of fun,” Davis said. “My teammates did a great job of looking forme.”
Durant had a triple-double with 21 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. Stephen Curry added 21 points for theWest— where a subplot emerged as DeMarcus Cousins played only two minutes, prompting some speculation that a trade sending him out of Sacramento might be looming.
Antetokounmpo had 30 points for the East, with 12 dunks in his night. LeBron James scored 23 points to become the first All-Star to eclipse 300 in a career, Kyrie Irving had 22 points and 14 assists, and Isaiah Thomas scored 20 for the East.
Davis became the story that overshadowed The Story coming into thisgame, that being the Durant-Westbrook whatever.
Andif there is any animus remaining between Durant and Westbrook, it was hidden. Theypassed each other the ball and slapped hands in the pregame layup line, and not long after Westbrook checked into the game the former Oklahoma City teammates provided one of the game’s top highlights — a give-and-go, capped by Durant lobbing the ball to setWestbrook up for a dunk.
“OH MY GOD! WHAT JUST HAPPENED?” Curry shouted on theWest bench, which moments later broke into celebration. Players jumped and threw hands skyward, Curry tossing a cupful of water onto a smiling Durant amid it all.
Draymond Green called the play “cute,” and Westbrook and Durant seemed happy with it aswell.
“It was a nice give-andgo, man,” Westbrook said. “Good give-and-go. Made a good pass. I barely got over the rim, but it was a nice give-and-go.”
Added Durant: “It was a great basketball play. He was open so I threwhim the lob. He can jump really high so yeah, good play.”
Some fans were shouting “De-Fense!” in the fourth quarter. West center DeAndre Jordan heard them, rising from his seat on the West bench to yell “No, no, no” back in their direction.
If those fanswere serious, theywere disappointed.
Westbrook scored 12 points — all on 3s — in a 63-second span late in the third quarter, coming off the bench and firing over and over and over again. And then he opened the fourth quarter with another 3, giving him 34 points in just under 14 minutes played to that point.
It looked like he was a cinch forMVP honors, until Davis scored 20 points in the fourth.