70th NBA All-Star Game ‘unlikely’ to happen as planned

The 70th NBA All-Star Game probably won’t be played on Feb. 14, 2021, when it is scheduled to be held in Indianapolis.

According to published reports, an NBA spokesman said the All-Star weekend schedule is not set in stone. The TBD regular-season schedule for the 2020-21 campaign forced the league to cancel or reschedule the game. Chalk it up us another COVID-19-impacted situation.

“Given the uncertainty surrounding the schedule for the 2020-21 NBA season,” the spokesman said, “we and the Indiana Pacers informed our hotel partners in Indianapolis that NBA All-Star 2021 is unlikely to take place on Presidents’ Day weekend so they could make other arrangements.

“More information about next season’s schedule, including NBA All-Star, will be announced at a later date.”

The Indiana Pacers were named the hosts of the 70th NBA All-Star Game in December 2017.

Unconfirmed schedule

The NBA announced that it wants to start the upcoming season on Dec. 1. But the league said it might move back the launch of the season to accommodate having spectators again at league venues.

Meanwhile, the 2019-20 season’s playoffs just got underway behind close doors on Monday at the Walt Disney World bubble in Florida.

Pacers react to news about 70th NBA All-Star Game

Indiana Pacers President Rick Fuson acknowledged the franchise took pride in planning for the 70th NBA All-Star Game.

“We have been working with the NBA since 2017 to bring our fans and our city this world-class event, just as we did when we last hosted in 1985,” Fuson said in a statement. “While it appears All-Star 2021 is unlikely to happen on Presidents’ Day weekend, we are excited about continuing to collaborate with the NBA as we look to the future.”

This year’s All-Star Game

Team LeBron defeated Team Giannis 157-155 in the 2020 NBA All-Star Game in Chicago.