Embiid and Simmons will NOT play at the All Star Game

[Rondo9]

Due to COVID-19 protocols:

https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/1368608297327165445

[Donoghus]

A little more on this.

Adrian Wojnarowski
@wojespn
·
14m
The NBA's worst nightmare in Atlanta has been an outbreak among the best players in the world. Embiid and Simmons didn't have contact w/ peers there. In the instance involving the two Sixers stars, players have been kept in contact tracing and quarantine for 7 days this season.

[Ed Monix]

It was absolutely moronic to take the risk for an All-Star game. Can you imagine if they did have contact with the rest of the players and every star in the league got COVID because of an exhibition game?!

Should have just named the team for the historical perspective and had a week break.

[GreenCoffeeBean]

NBA is going to be the G League for the next couple weeks.

[Neurotic Guy]

It was absolutely moronic to take the risk for an All-Star game. Can you imagine if they did have contact with the rest of the players and every star in the league got COVID because of an exhibition game?!

Should have just named the team for the historical perspective and had a week break.

I couldn't agree with you more.   I do have to say though that I don't think I've watched an NBA all-star game (or any sport's ASG for that matter) in probably 40 years.  It is never of any interest at all to me.

The last all-star event I remember being interested in was when Larry was in the 3-point contests -- late 80's?  And I'm not sure they broadcast those fully back then -- may have been highlights that I remember seeing.

[colincb]

Baseball ASGs are by far the best with the other sports' ASGs being dull as dirt. But I lost interest in baseball with the steroid mess and the commissioner looking the other way after the 94-95 strike.

[Roy H.]

A shared barber in Philly is the culprit.

[gouki88]

Seemed like something like this was an inevitability

[Jiri Welsch]

Between Brown potentially getting COVID and both Brown & Tatum now likely to see increased minutes.... I’m holding my breath tonight.

Not super pumped this is happening!

[SparzWizard]

All part of Doc Rivers' plan to sit his two stars out from the ASG and get them rest while the rest of his Eastern Conference rivals need to take on big minutes.

[Rondo9]

All part of Doc Rivers' plan to sit his two stars out from the ASG and get them rest while the rest of his Eastern Conference rivals need to take on big minutes.

That's a ridiculous conspiracy theory and if that's true then they all should be suspended for the rest of the season.

[tazzmaniac]

All part of Doc Rivers' plan to sit his two stars out from the ASG and get them rest while the rest of his Eastern Conference rivals need to take on big minutes.

That's a ridiculous conspiracy theory and if that's true then they all should be suspended for the rest of the season.

Especially ridiculous since the 7 day quarantine period will mean Embiid and Simmons will miss their double header against the Bulls and Wizards on Thursday and Friday.  Two should-be wins could easily become losses now.