The participants for the 2021 NBA All-Star Game have been finalized. Prior to Tuesday's night matchup between the Los Angeles Clippers and Washington Wizards, the reserves for this year's game were revealed on TNT. Anthony Davis, Paul George, Rudy Gobert, Damian Lillard, Donovan Mitchell, Chris Paul and Zion Williamson were selected from the Western Conference. Jaylen Brown, James Harden, Zach LaVine, Julius Randle, Ben Simmons, Jayson Tatum and Nicola Vucevic were selected from the Eastern Conference.
As fans do nearly every year, spectators from different cities chimed into say that a player on their favorite team was snubbed. Fans criticized the NBA after Memphis Grizzlies Point Guard Ja Morant, Indiana Pacers Forward Damontas Sabonis, Miami Heat Forward Jimmy Butler and Utah Jazz Point Guard Mike Conley were left out of the game. Most notably, Phoenix Suns Guard Devin Booker was not selected to this year's all-star game. Immediately, four-time NBA Champion LeBron James jumped to his defense.
"Devin Booker is the most disrespected player in our league! [It's as] simple as that," James tweeted.
James was able to make the all-star game this year. Alongside Brooklyn Nets Forward Kevin Durant, James will serve as one of the two captains for this year's event. On March 4, James and Durant will appear for the 2021 NBA All-Star Game Draft. The two former MVPs will select 11 players each for their respective teams.
The 2021 NBA All-Star Game will appear on March 7 at 8 p.m. The game will be preceded by the annual skills challenge and three-point contest. Adding on, a dunk contest will take place during halftime of the all-star game. The league has not yet named the participants for the ancillary events.
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