Please be advised of the following update to the 2020-21 NBA Schedule:
Monday, March 1, 2021
- The Denver at Chicago game will change game time to 8:00 PM ET / 7:00 PM local.
As of 2-28-2021 2:00 PM ET
CHICAGO AT TORONTO GAME POSTPONED
NEW YORK, Feb. 28, 2021 – The National Basketball Association game scheduled for tonight between the Chicago Bulls and Toronto Raptors at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla. has been postponed in accordance with the league’s Health and Safety Protocols.
Because of positive test results and ongoing contact tracing within the Raptors, the team will not have the league-required eight available players to proceed with the scheduled game against the Bulls.
INDIANA’S SABONIS TO REPLACE BROOKLYN’S DURANT
IN 2021 NBA ALL-STAR GAME
– Boston’s Tatum to Replace Durant as Starter in All-Star Game –
NEW YORK, Feb. 26, 2021 – Indiana Pacers forward Domantas Sabonis has been named by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to replace injured Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant in the 2021 NBA All-Star Game, which will be played on Sunday, March 7 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.
Sabonis has earned his second straight NBA All-Star selection. He is averaging a career-high 21.5 points, 11.7 rebounds (fifth in the NBA) and a career-high 5.7 assists in 30 games this season. He joins NBA All-Stars Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks, Nikola Jokić of the Denver Nuggets and Julius Randle of the New York Knicks as the only players who are averaging at least 20.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game. A five-year NBA veteran from Lithuania, Sabonis ranks second in the league in double-doubles with 24 and has recorded three triple-doubles.
Durant will not play in the NBA All-Star Game because of a left hamstring strain, which has caused him to miss the last six games. He is averaging 29.0 points, 7.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists in 19 games. Durant was named an NBA All-Star Game starter and team captain, his 11th All-Star selection.
According to NBA rules, when a player selected to the All-Star Game is unable to participate, the Commissioner shall choose a replacement from the same conference as the player who is being replaced. Durant and Sabonis both play for Eastern Conference teams.
Durant will be replaced in the starter pool for the NBA All-Star Draft by Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, who was selected as an All-Star reserve. According to NBA rules, an injured All-Star Game starter is replaced in the starter pool for the NBA All-Star Draft by the All-Star reserve from the same conference and of the same position group who received the highest ranking in the voting for All-Star starters. Tatum will be selected with the starters in the first round of the NBA All-Star Draft, while Sabonis will be selected with the reserves in the second round. The NBA All-Star Draft will air on TNT on Thursday, March 4 at 8 p.m. ET.
The 70th NBA All-Star Game is part of NBA All-Star 2021, which will take place on one night, March 7. TNT’s NBA All-Star coverage will begin at 5 p.m. ET with TNT NBA Tip-Off presented by CarMax, followed by the Taco Bell® Skills Challenge and MTN DEW® 3-Point Contest starting at 6:30 p.m. ET. NBA All-Star Game coverage will begin at 8 p.m. ET, with AT&T Slam Dunk taking place at halftime.
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WNBA Approves Sale of Atlanta Dream to Larry Gottesdiener
--Former Dream Player Renee Montgomery to be
Member of Ownership Group--
Atlanta, Georgia (February 26, 2021) - The WNBA and NBA Boards of Governors have unanimously approved the sale of the Atlanta Dream to Larry Gottesdiener, Chairman of Northland, an industry-leading national real estate firm. The three-member investor group is comprised of former Dream star Renee Montgomery, Northland President and Chief Operating Officer Suzanne Abair, and Gottesdiener.
“With the unanimous WNBA and NBA votes, today marks a new beginning for the Atlanta Dream organization and we are very pleased to welcome Larry Gottesdiener and Suzanne Abair to the WNBA,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. “I admire their passion for women’s basketball, but more importantly, have been impressed with their values. I am also thrilled that former WNBA star Renee Montgomery will be joining the ownership group as an investor and executive for the team. Renee is a trailblazer who has made a major impact both in the game and beyond.”
“It is a privilege to join a team of inspiring women who strive for excellence on the court and equity off the court,” said Larry Gottesdiener. “I would like to express my gratitude to Commissioner Engelbert, Commissioner Silver, and the WNBA and NBA Boards of Governors for the opportunity.”
Two-time WNBA champion Renee Montgomery will be the first former player to become both an owner and executive of a WNBA team. Montgomery sat out the 2020 season to focus on social justice issues and recently announced her retirement from the league after 11 seasons.
“My Dream has come true,” said Renee Montgomery. “Breaking barriers for minorities and women by being the first former WNBA player to have both a stake in ownership and a leadership role with the team is an opportunity that I take very seriously. I invite you to join me as the Dream builds momentum in Atlanta!”
Founded in 2007, the Dream has qualified for the WNBA Playoffs eight times and has reached the WNBA Finals three times. The team’s former owners, Dream Too LLC, the Atlanta Dream ownership group, purchased the team in 2011.
Mary Brock and Kelly Loeffler commented on the transaction saying, "Ten years ago we stepped up to keep the Dream in Atlanta, as an important asset for a vibrant and diverse city. It was also important to us to help level the playing field for women's professional sports. We are proud of what we accomplished and wish the team well in their next chapter. We will always value the hard work and dedication, and the memories, fans and friendships that sustained our commitment to the Atlanta Dream over the last decade.”
The Dream will play the 2021 season at the Gateway Center Arena at College Park, a multi-purpose sports and entertainment venue. The 2021 WNBA regular season schedule will be announced at a later date.
About Larry Gottesdiener
Larry Gottesdiener, Founder and Chairman of Northland Investment Corporation, a $10 billion real estate private equity firm, charts Northland’s long-term strategy, oversees innovative mixed-used developments, and guides philanthropy, engagement, and activism. Northland has been recognized by the industry in lists that include Best Places to Work in Multifamily and Best Places to Work in Multifamily for Women. Northland’s philanthropy is focused on empowering women, combating racism, and ending homelessness.
About the WNBA
Entering its 25th season in 2021, the WNBA is a bold, progressive basketball league that stands for the power of women. Featuring 12 teams, the W is a unique sports property that combines competition and entertainment with a commitment to diversity and inclusion and social responsibility. Through its world-class athletes, the in-game fan experience, TV and digital broadcasts, digital and social content and community outreach programs, the league celebrates and elevates the game of basketball and the culture around it.
In 2020, the WNBA and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) signed a groundbreaking eight-year CBA that charts a new course for women’s basketball – and women’s sports overall – with a focus on increased player compensation, improvements to the player experience, expanded career development opportunities and resources specifically tailored to the female professional athlete. Key elements of the agreement are supported through the league’s new partnership platform, WNBA Changemakers. Inaugural WNBA Changemakers include AT&T, Deloitte and Nike. In addition, during the 2020 season, the WNBA and WNBPA launched the WNBA Justice Movement forming the Social Justice Council with the mission of being a driving force of necessary change and continuing conversations about race and voting rights, among other important societal issues.
SAN ANTONIO’S DEJOUNTE MURRAY FINED
NEW YORK, Feb. 26, 2021 – San Antonio Spurs guard Dejounte Murray has been fined $25,000 for kicking the game ball into the spectator stands, it was announced today by Kiki VanDeWeghe, Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.
The incident occurred at the conclusion of the Spurs’ 102-99 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Feb. 24 at Chesapeake Energy Arena.
To view the incident, click on the following link: https://www.nba.com/watch/
MINNESOTA’S BEASLEY SUSPENDED 12 GAMES
NEW YORK, Feb. 25, 2021 – Minnesota Timberwolves guard Malik Beasley has been suspended 12 games without pay for pleading guilty to a felony charge of threatening to commit a crime of violence for the purpose of terrorizing another person, in violation of the law of the State of Minnesota, the NBA announced today. The incident occurred on Sept. 26, 2020.
Beasley will begin serving his suspension on Saturday, Feb. 27 when the Timberwolves visit the Washington Wizards.
HENNESSY BECOMES THE NBA’S FIRST GLOBAL SPIRITS PARTNER
– Multiyear Partnership Expansion Makes Hennessy the “Official Spirit of the NBA” Worldwide –
COGNAC, FRANCE, Feb. 25, 2021 – Hennessy, the world’s best-selling cognac, and the National Basketball Association (NBA) today announced a global expansion of their partnership, making Hennessy the “Official Spirit of the NBA” worldwide. The multiyear agreement, which marks the league’s first-ever global partnership with a spirits brand, ushers in the next chapter of Hennessy’s relationship with the NBA and expands on the North American deal that was announced in February 2020.
“We are honored by the distinction as the first global spirit partner in the NBA’s history,” said Julie Nollet, Hennessy global CMO. “The NBA is more than basketball, and Hennessy is more than cognac. We represent global communities, and this partnership empowers us to support a game and culture that brings people together through entertainment and camaraderie despite the current challenges faced by fans around the world. We share the NBA’s core values of integrity, teamwork, respect and innovation, which are more powerful than ever as we work to inspire and unite people across the globe.”
“This partnership expansion marks an exciting milestone for the league as Hennessy becomes the NBA’s first-ever global spirits partner,” said Dan Rossomondo, NBA Senior Vice President, Media and Business Development. “We look forward to continuing to celebrate the game of basketball alongside this iconic brand and our fans around the world.”
The expanded partnership will tip off in Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe and South America with the launch of an adaptation of the “Hennessy x NBA: Lines” campaign that celebrates those who push the game forward. Fans around the world will be able to toast with new exclusive Hennessy VS and VSOP Limited Edition bottles, specially designed to commemorate the partnership. The Limited Edition bottles are now available in the U.S., and a worldwide release is planned for the second quarter of 2021.
To learn more about the 2020-21 NBA season with Hennessy, visit Hennessy.com or @Hennessy on Instagram.
SUNS’ BOOKER TO REPLACE LAKERS’ DAVIS IN 2021 NBA ALL-STAR GAME
NEW YORK, Feb. 24, 2021 – Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker has been named by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to replace injured Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis in the 2021 NBA All-Star Game, which will be played on Sunday, March 7 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.
Booker has earned his second straight NBA All-Star selection. He is averaging a team-high 24.7 points (16th in the NBA), 4.3 assists and 3.8 rebounds while shooting a career-high 50.1 percent from the field, 38.1 percent from three-point range and 84.8 percent from the free throw line in 26 games this season.
Behind Booker and fellow NBA All-Star Chris Paul, Phoenix has posted the league’s fourth-best record (20-10) and produced its best start through 30 games of a season since 2007-08. With the selection of Booker and Paul, the Suns have multiple NBA All-Stars in a season for the first time since 2009-10 (Steve Nash and Amar’e Stoudemire).
Davis will miss the NBA All-Star Game after sustaining a right calf strain against the Denver Nuggets on Feb. 14. He was voted by NBA head coaches as an All-Star reserve, his eighth consecutive All-Star selection. Davis is averaging 22.5 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.78 blocks in 23 games this season.
According to NBA rules, when a player selected to the All-Star Game is unable to participate, the Commissioner shall choose a replacement from the same conference as the player who is being replaced. Davis and Booker both play for Western Conference teams.
The NBA All-Star Game rosters will be determined through the NBA All-Star Draft, where team captains Kevin Durant of the Brooklyn Nets and LeBron James of the Lakers will select from the pool of players named starters and reserves in each conference. TNT will air the NBA All-Star Draft on Thursday, March 4 at 8 p.m. ET.
In the two-round NBA All-Star Draft, Booker will be selected with the All-Star Game reserves in the second round. The starters will be selected in the first round. Davis will be assigned to the same All-Star team that drafts Booker.
The 70th NBA All-Star Game is part of NBA All-Star 2021, which will take place on one night, March 7. TNT’s NBA All-Star coverage will begin at 5 p.m. ET with TNT NBA Tip-Off presented by CarMax, followed by the Taco Bell® Skills Challenge and MTN DEW® 3-Point Contest starting at 6:30 p.m. ET. NBA All-Star Game coverage will begin at 8 p.m. ET, with AT&T Slam Dunk taking place at halftime.
NBA AND NBPA ANNOUNCE COVID-19 TEST RESULTS
NEW YORK, Feb. 24, 2021 – Of the 455 players tested for COVID-19 since Feb. 17, 2 new players have returned confirmed positive tests.
Anyone who has returned a confirmed positive test, or has been identified as having been in close contact to an infected person, is isolated or quarantined until they are cleared under the rules established by the NBA and the Players Association in accordance with CDC guidance.
NBA UNVEILS GAME AND NATIONAL TELEVISION SCHEDULES
FOR SECOND HALF OF 2020-21 SEASON
– Second Half of Regular Season Begins March 10 and Concludes May 16 –
– NBA Play-In Tournament Held May 18-21; NBA Playoffs Start May 22 –
NEW YORK, Feb. 24, 2021 – The NBA today released its game schedule and broadcast schedules for TNT, ESPN, ABC, NBA TV and ESPN Radio for the Second Half of the 2020-21 regular season, which will begin Wednesday, March 10 and conclude Sunday, May 16.
The Second Half of the regular season will be followed by the 2021 NBA Play-In Tournament (May 18-21) and the 2021 NBA Playoffs, which will tip off Saturday, May 22. The Play-In Tournament will determine the teams that will fill the seventh and eighth playoff seeds in each conference. The teams with the seventh-highest through the tenth-highest winning percentages in each conference will qualify for the Play-In Tournament.
The game schedules across TNT and ESPN for the final week of the regular season (May 10-16) will be determined at a later date in order to provide the most compelling matchups to a national audience leading into the NBA Play-In Tournament and the NBA Playoffs. In the final week of the regular season, TNT will present doubleheaders Tuesday, May 11 and Thursday, May 13, and ESPN will televise doubleheaders Wednesday, May 12 and Friday, May 14. ESPN will also air a game Sunday, May 16 on the final day of the regular season.
TNT will tip off its coverage of the Second Half of the season Thursday, March 11 with a doubleheader as the Brooklyn Nets host the Boston Celtics (7:30 p.m. ET) and the Golden State Warriors visit the LA Clippers (10 p.m. ET). ESPN will begin its Second Half coverage Sunday, March 14 when the New Orleans Pelicans host the Clippers (9 p.m. ET). On Monday, March 15, ESPN’s first doubleheader in the Second Half will feature the New York Knicks visiting the Nets (8 p.m. ET) and the Lakers taking on the Warriors in San Francisco (10:30 p.m. ET).
ABC Sunday Showcase and NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC will both continue in the Second Half of the season. In ABC’s first two telecasts of the Second Half, the Lakers will face the Clippers in Sunday Showcase on April 4 (3:30 p.m. ET) and then visit the Nets in NBA Saturday Primetime on April 10 (8:30 p.m. ET).
On Wednesday, March 10, the first day of game action in the Second Half of the season, NBA TV will present the San Antonio Spurs visiting the Dallas Mavericks (8:30 p.m. ET). NBA TV’s coverage will continue Friday, March 12 with a doubleheader as the Memphis Grizzlies host the Denver Nuggets (8 p.m. ET) and the Indiana Pacers meet the Lakers in Los Angeles (10:30 p.m. ET).
ESPN Radio will air its first game in the Second Half on Sunday, March 14 when the Pelicans host the Clippers at 9 p.m. ET.
Other schedule highlights for the Second Half of the 2020-21 season:
- TNT’s doubleheader Thursday, April 8 will open with a rematch of NBA Finals 2020 presented by YouTube TV as the Miami Heat hosts the Lakers (7:30 p.m. ET), followed by the Phoenix Suns visiting the Clippers (10 p.m. ET).
- The Utah Jazz, which has a league-leading 25-6 record, will visit the defending NBA champion Lakers twice in a three-day span on ESPN: Saturday, April 17 (3:30 p.m. ET) and Monday, April 19 (10 p.m. ET). Utah will also host Brooklyn on Wednesday, March 24 on ESPN (10 p.m. ET).
- The Philadelphia 76ers, who lead the Eastern Conference at 21-11, will meet the Bucks three times in the Second Half of the season: Wednesday, March 17 on ESPN (7 p.m. ET); Thursday, April 22 on TNT (7 p.m. ET); and Saturday, April 24 on ESPN (3:30 p.m. ET).
- ABC’s regular-season game coverage will conclude Sunday, May 2 with a Sunday Showcase matchup between the Nets and Bucks in Milwaukee (3:30 p.m. ET).
- NBA TV will tip off the final week of the regular season with a doubleheader Monday, May 10: Washington Wizards at Atlanta Hawks (7:30 p.m. ET) and Jazz at Warriors (10 p.m. ET).
- The Second Half will reach fans in 215 countries and territories in more than 50 languages.
The Play-In Tournament will begin Tuesday, May 18 and conclude Friday, May 21. The teams with the seventh-highest and eighth-highest winning percentages in each conference will each have two opportunities to win one game to earn a playoff spot. The teams with the ninth-highest and tenth-highest winning percentages in each conference will each have to win two consecutive games to earn a playoff spot.
At the conclusion of the regular season, the team with the seventh-highest winning percentage in each conference will host the team with the eighth-highest winning percentage in its conference in a Play-In Game (the “Seven-Eight Game”). The winner of the Seven-Eight Game in each conference will be the seventh seed in the playoffs for its conference.
The team with the ninth-highest winning percentage in each conference will host the team with the tenth-highest winning percentage in its conference in a Play-In Game (the “Nine-Ten Game”). The loser of the Seven-Eight Game will host the winner of the Nine-Ten Game in a Play-In Game, and the winner of that game will be the eighth seed in the playoffs for its conference.
LEON NEWSOME NAMED NBA SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT,
CHIEF SECURITY OFFICER
NEW YORK, Feb. 24, 2021 – The National Basketball Association (NBA) announced today that Leon Newsome, the Deputy Director of the U.S. Secret Service, has been named Senior Vice President, Chief Security Officer. Newsome will oversee all aspects of security operations for the NBA, WNBA, NBA G League, NBA 2K League and soon-to-launch Basketball Africa League as well as the NBA’s 15 offices worldwide. He will join the NBA on March 15 and report to President, Administration Bob Criqui.
Newsome has 28 years of experience with the Secret Service, rising to Deputy Director in August 2019. As Deputy Director, he oversaw the daily investigative and protective operations of an agency with more than 7,000 employees globally. He also implemented emerging protective technologies and led the Secret Service’s public and private partnerships on issues directly impacting national security.
Newsome previously held other senior management positions within the Secret Service, where his responsibilities included leading the investigative efforts for all domestic and international offices and overseeing the multiagency coordination of numerous National Special Security Events.
“Leon is an extraordinarily accomplished security professional and leader and we are grateful to welcome him to the NBA,” said Criqui. “His vast experience with the Secret Service on a global basis will be an enormous benefit to our fans, players, teams and staff.”
“I want to thank Commissioner Adam Silver, Bob Criqui and the entire National Basketball Association family for giving me the opportunity to join such an outstanding organization,” said Newsome. “While I will miss the daily interaction with the dedicated men and women of the Secret Service, I look forward to getting started and working alongside the members of the NBA Security group.”
A Baltimore native, Newsome earned a bachelor’s degree in History from Princeton University. He also graduated from the Key Executive Leadership Program at American University.
BROOKLYN’S HARDEN AND PHOENIX’S PAUL HEADLINE
RESERVES FOR 2021 NBA ALL-STAR GAME
– Four First-Time All-Star Selections Among Reserves: Boston’s Brown,
Chicago’s LaVine, New York’s Randle and New Orleans’ Williamson –
– TNT to Air NBA All-Star Draft on Thursday, March 4 at 8 p.m. ET –
NEW YORK, Feb. 23, 2021 – Brooklyn Nets guard James Harden and Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul lead the list of 14 players selected by the NBA’s head coaches as reserves for the 2021 NBA All-Star Game. Harden has been named an All-Star for the ninth straight year and Paul has earned his 11th All-Star selection.
The 70th NBA All-Star Game will be played Sunday, March 7 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta and televised by TNT as part of NBA All-Star 2021, which will take place on one night. TNT’s NBA All-Star coverage will begin at 5 p.m. ET with TNT NBA Tip-Off presented by CarMax, followed by the Taco Bell® Skills Challenge and MTN DEW® 3-Point Contest starting at 6:30 p.m. ET. NBA All-Star Game coverage will begin at 8 p.m. ET, with AT&T Slam Dunk taking place at halftime.
In addition to Harden, the NBA All-Star Game reserves selected from the Eastern Conference are Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown and forward Jayson Tatum, Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine, New York Knicks forward Julius Randle, Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons and Orlando Magic center Nikola Vučević.
Joining Paul as reserves from the Western Conference are Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis, LA Clippers forward Paul George, Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert and guard Donovan Mitchell, Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard and New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson.
Brown, LaVine and Randle from the Eastern Conference and Williamson from the Western Conference comprise the four first-time NBA All-Star selections among reserves.
In selecting the All-Star Game reserves, each NBA head coach voted for seven players in his conference – two guards, three frontcourt players and two additional players at any position. The head coaches were not permitted to vote for players from their own team.
The All-Star Game rosters will be determined through the NBA All-Star Draft, where team captains Kevin Durant of the Nets and LeBron James of the Lakers will select from the pool of players voted as starters and reserves in each conference. TNT will air the NBA All-Star Draft on Thursday, March 4 at 8 p.m. ET.
Durant and James will make their picks without regard to a player’s conference affiliation or position. Each captain will draft 11 players to complete a 12-player roster. The NBA All-Star Draft rules include:
- The eight players who, along with the two captains, are the starters will be drafted in the first round.
- The 14 players who are the reserves will be drafted in the second round.
- As the top overall vote-getter among fans, James will have the first pick in the first round (Starters). Durant will have the first pick in the second round (Reserves).
- The captains will alternate picks in each round until all players in that round have been selected.
The 10 All-Star Game starters, unveiled last week, were selected by fans, current NBA players and a media panel. The Eastern Conference starter pool is the Nets’ Durant and Kyrie Irving, the Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Washington Wizards’ Bradley Beal and the 76ers’ Joel Embiid. The Western Conference starter pool is the Lakers’ James, the Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry, the Dallas Mavericks’ Luka Dončić, the Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokić and the Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver will select the replacement for any player unable to participate in the All-Star Game, naming a player from the same conference as the player who is being replaced.
Philadelphia head coach Doc Rivers and his staff have earned the spot to coach Team Durant. Utah head coach Quin Snyder and his staff have earned the spot to coach Team LeBron.
Below is a closer look at the All-Star Game reserves and a complete list of this year’s All-Star selections.
2021 NBA ALL-STAR GAME RESERVES
Eastern Conference Player Pool
• Jaylen Brown, Celtics (1st All-Star selection): Brown joins Tatum to give Boston multiple All-Star selections for the third time in the last four seasons.
• James Harden, Nets (9th All-Star selection): With the selection of Harden as a reserve and Durant and Irving as starters, the Nets have three NBA All-Stars in the same season for the first time in franchise history.
• Zach LaVine, Bulls (1st All-Star selection): A two-time AT&T Slam Dunk champion and former Rising Stars MVP, LaVine is Chicago’s first NBA All-Star since Jimmy Butler in the 2016-17 season.
• Julius Randle, Knicks (1st All-Star selection): Randle is the first New York player selected as an All-Star since Kristaps Porzingis in the 2017-18 season.
• Ben Simmons, 76ers (3rd All-Star selection): The 24-year-old Australian has followed his Kia NBA Rookie of the Year-winning season in 2017-18 with three consecutive All-Star selections.
• Jayson Tatum, Celtics (2nd All-Star selection): This is the second straight All-Star selection for Tatum, who turns 23 four days before the 2021 NBA All-Star Game.
• Nikola Vučević, Magic (2nd All-Star selection): Vučević is an All-Star for the second time in the last three seasons.
Western Conference Player Pool
• Anthony Davis, Lakers (8th All-Star selection): Davis, who scored a record 52 points in the 2017 NBA All-Star Game, is an All-Star for the eighth consecutive year.
• Paul George, Clippers (7th All-Star selection): An All-Star for the seventh time in the last nine seasons, George made a record nine three-pointers and scored 41 points in the 2016 NBA All-Star Game.
• Rudy Gobert, Jazz (2nd All-Star selection): The two-time Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year scored 21 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in his All-Star Game debut last year.
• Damian Lillard, Trail Blazers (6th All-Star selection): Lillard is the second player to be named an All-Star six times with Portland, along with Clyde Drexler (eight selections with the Trail Blazers).
• Donovan Mitchell, Jazz (2nd All-Star selection): Mitchell joins Utah teammate Gobert as an All-Star for the second year in a row.
• Chris Paul, Suns (11th All-Star selection): Paul has become the third player to be named an All-Star with four different franchises, joining Moses Malone and Shaquille O’Neal.
• Zion Williamson, Pelicans (1st All-Star selection): Williamson, 20, is set to become the fourth-youngest player to play in the NBA All-Star Game, behind Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Magic Johnson.
2021 NBA ALL-STAR GAME SELECTIONS | |||
Starters | Reserves | ||
Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee) Bradley Beal (Washington) Stephen Curry (Golden State) Luka Dončić (Dallas) *Kevin Durant (Brooklyn) Joel Embiid (Philadelphia) Kyrie Irving (Brooklyn) *LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers) Nikola Jokić (Denver) Kawhi Leonard (LA Clippers)
*Team Captain | Jaylen Brown (Boston) Anthony Davis (Los Angeles Lakers) Paul George (LA Clippers) Rudy Gobert (Utah) James Harden (Brooklyn) Zach LaVine (Chicago) Damian Lillard (Portland) Donovan Mitchell (Utah) Chris Paul (Phoenix) Julius Randle (New York) Ben Simmons (Philadelphia) Jayson Tatum (Boston) Nikola Vučević (Orlando) Zion Williamson (New Orleans)
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HBCU ALUMNA GLADYS KNIGHT TO SING U.S. NATIONAL ANTHEM, ALESSIA CARA TO SING CANADIAN NATIONAL ANTHEM DURING NBA ALL-STAR 2021
– Clark Atlanta University Philharmonic Society Choir to Sing “Lift Every Voice and Sing” –
– Grambling State University Tiger Marching Band and Florida A&M University Marching 100 to Play During All-Star Player Introductions –
– AT&T Slam Dunk to Replace the Traditional Halftime Show –
NEW YORK, Feb. 23, 2021 – The National Basketball Association (NBA) announced today that seven-time GRAMMY® Award winner Gladys Knight, who graduated from Shaw University, one of the oldest HBCUs in the nation, will sing the U.S. national anthem at NBA All-Star 2021 live from State Farm Arena in Atlanta. In addition, GRAMMY Award winner and singer-songwriter Alessia Cara will sing the Canadian national anthem from Toronto. The anthems will air on Sunday, March 7 on TNT ahead of the 70th NBA All-Star Game, with AT&T Slam Dunk replacing the traditional halftime show.
Throughout the night, the league will pay tribute to the vital role of HBCUs through music, content and storytelling, including an original rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” by the Clark Atlanta University Philharmonic Society Choir, which will sing from an iconic location on its campus. The rendition will honor NAACP leader and Black national anthem songwriter James Weldon Johnson, who is also a Clark Atlanta alumnus.
Additionally, the nationally-recognized Grambling State University Tiger Marching Band and Florida A&M University Marching 100 will play during NBA All-Star player introductions from their respective historical campuses. Throughout the game, members of the Divine Nine fraternities and sororities, a prestigious group of nine historically Black Greek letter organizations, will introduce Atlanta’s most reputable step teams from Spelman College and Morehouse College.
As previously announced, the NBA All-Star Game and skills competitions will take place on the same night for the first time. TNT’s coverage will begin at 5 p.m. ET, followed by the Taco Bell® Skills Challenge and MTN DEW® 3-Point Contest starting at 6:30 p.m. ET.
About the Artists:
Alessia Cara
2018’s “Best New Artist” Grammy Award Winning Canadian singer/songwriter and Def Jam Recordings artist Alessia Cara emerged onto the music scene in 2015 with her global anthem “Here.” On top of her Grammy win, she was also awarded with an MTV EMA for Best World Stage Performance following the release of her highly anticipated sophomore album THE PAINS OF GROWING. This Summer EP was released September 6th. In 2020, Alessia brought a band in the studio to create the EP in a live studio environment. This Summer: Live Off The floor; all six songs re-recorded and reimagined with live instrumentation. Alessia also made her acting debut as the lead role of Jane in Netflix’s original animated film “The Willoughbys.”
Gladys Knight
Seven-time Grammy Award winner Gladys Knight has enjoyed #1 hits in Pop, Gospel, R&B and Adult Contemporary, and has triumphed in film, television and live performance. Knight, who is a two-time Grammy winner in the gospel category, yet again embraced her gospel roots, releasing her inspirational album “Where My Heart Belongs”, in September 2014. The album was a major success and won an NAACP Image Award for “Outstanding Gospel Album.” Knight has recorded more than 38 albums over the years, including four solo albums during the past decade: “Good Woman” (1991); “Just for You” (1994); the inspirational “Many Different Roads” (1999); and “At Last” (2001). “At Last” showed the world that she still has what it takes to record a hit album, employing the talents of contemporary producers like Randy Jackson, Gary Brown, among many others. Her involvement in other creative undertakings, business ventures and humanitarian activities has been extensive, and has brought her honors from industry and community alike.
About the HBCU musical groups:
Clark Atlanta University Philharmonic Society Choir
The Clark Atlanta University Philharmonic Society is a nationally respected choral ensemble that perpetuates a proud century-old tradition of artistic clarity, stylistic authority, and brilliant choral tone. The Philharmonic Society includes an international membership of the finest men and women, boasting honor students and student leaders from across the university. The Society performs the gamut of the choral genre, from standard classical literature to popular repertoire and has an affinity for performing works drawn from the vast storehouse of the African American traditions. It has done individual performances in conjunction with such noted figures as Nelson Mandela, Quincy Jones, William Warfield, Roberta Flack, James Moody, Jeffery Osborn, Roy Ayres, and Andrew Young. The CAU Philharmonic has performed for the National Convening Body of the United Methodist Church and was heard in New York City at Carnegie Hall in the world premiere performance of The Nativity, a contemporary work by composer Ernestine Robinson. More recently, over 4 million viewers saw and heard the Society on “Chasing the Dream: Exploring Black History” on a live CNN webcast. Since the early 1990s, the Society has established a stellar reputation under the leadership of its former director, Professor Glynn E. Halsey. It is now poised to build on its rich choral tradition of excellence under the director of its current director, Dr. Curtis Powell.
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University Marching 100
The Marching “100” was named by band director William P. Foster, Ph.D., following his arrival at FAMU in 1946. Under Dr. Foster’s tutelage, the Marching “100” grew from 16 instruments to as many as 420 members. The band has performed at the Grammy’s, at the Rose Bowl Parade, three presidential inauguration parades and was the official U.S. representative to the Bicentennial Celebration of the French Revolution in Paris, France. The band is led by Shelby Chipman, Ph.D., a former student of Dr. Foster’s.
Grambling State University Tiger Marching Band
Started in 1926 by Grambling College President Ralph Waldo Emerson Jones, the band has performed in more super bowls than any other college or university to date. Known recently for their performance with Beyoncé at Coachella, the more than 250-piece ensemble has traveled internationally, made appearances in advertising campaigns for multiple national brands, and was among the bands shown in Drumline. Frequently labeled, “The Best in the Land,” the ensemble prides itself on the tradition of molding embryo noisemakers into superb musicians and magnificent marchers.
Video from virtual ceremonies available HERE.
MILWAUKEE BUCKS’ JRUE HOLIDAY AND DALLAS MAVERICKS’ JOSH RICHARDSON RECEIVE JANUARY NBA CARES COMMUNITY ASSIST AWARD PRESENTED BY KAISER PERMANENTE
– NBA and Kaiser Permanente to Donate $10,000 to the Jrue & Lauren Holiday Social Justice Fund and Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors on Behalf of Holiday and Richardson –
NEW YORK, Feb. 23, 2021 – Milwaukee Bucks guard Jrue Holiday and Dallas Mavericks guard Josh Richardson are co-winners of the January NBA Cares Community Assist Award presented by Kaiser Permanente in recognition of their efforts to immediately provide support for those impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in their new team markets, the NBA announced today. The award recognizes players each month who best reflect the passion that the league and NBA players share for giving back to their communities.
After joining the Bucks in November, Jrue and his wife, Lauren, partnered with the Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation to identify small, women- and Black-owned businesses most in need of assistance. After reviewing grant requests, the Holiday family announced funding for seven local businesses in January – Amri Counseling Services, Carter’s Quality Care, Hands at Home, Jamaican Season Island Restaurant, Kid’s Kingdom, Legacy Home Health Services and The SW Retreat – that provide a variety of services in southeastern Wisconsin, including assisted living, home health, childcare, mental health and substance abuse services, hospitality and more.
Similarly, Richardson, who joined the Mavericks shortly before the start of the 2020-21 season, quickly sought to make an impact in the greater Dallas area, surprising dozens of frontline health care workers from UT Southwestern Medical Center with Reebok sneakers, team merchandise and a surprise video message thanking them for their ongoing efforts to keep the community safe. He also visited a Dallas Independent School District first grade class as a guest reader, surprising the students and encouraging them to embrace reading and education during the particular challenges of this school year.
As the son of an Air Force servicewoman, Richardson has continued to work with the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, which provides comfort, care and resources to family and friends grieving the death of a servicemember. For several years, he has developed a close relationship with his mentee, Elijah, through the program, and during the holiday season, he provided gifts for more than 20 families who have also lost a loved one in service.
"My family instilled in me early on the value of service and that communities are created and sustained by our ability to support and serve others,” said Richardson. “I'm grateful to the Mavs organization and community for welcoming me with open arms, supporting Dallas is a priority for me."
Holiday has also made long-term commitments to assist communities important to him, including pledging the remainder of his 2020 NBA salary to create The Jrue and Lauren Holiday Social Justice Fund, which seeks to combat systemic racism and increase economic inequality by providing funding and support to Black-led organizations and businesses. Earlier this season, the fund announced support for 25 non-profits and historically Black institutions, as well as 23 Black-owned small businesses in Los Angeles, New Orleans and Indianapolis.
“With the COVID-19 pandemic and heightened racial injustices in 2020, many of us have been looking for answers,” said Holiday. “Lauren and I found ourselves searching for ways to help our community at a time when they needed it most. Pledging the remainder of our 2020 NBA salary to small Black-owned businesses, non-profits and initiatives is how we felt we could make a lasting impact.”
Holiday and Richardson were presented with their awards during special virtual ceremonies with league, Kaiser Permanente and their respective team officials this past week. They will also both be recognized in-arena during their teams’ games this week (Dallas vs. Boston tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET on TNT and Milwaukee vs. L.A. Clippers on Saturday, Feb. 28 at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC.) In addition, Kaiser Permanente and the NBA will donate $10,000 on Holiday’s behalf to the Jrue & Lauren Holiday Social Justice Fund and $10,000 on Richardson’s behalf to the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors.
The NBA Cares Community Assist Award presented by Kaiser Permanente recognizes an NBA player each month who best reflects the passion that the league and its players share for giving back to their communities. It honors the standard set by NBA Legend David Robinson, who improved the community piece by piece. At the end of the 2020-21 regular season, the Seasonlong NBA Cares Community Assist Award winner will be announced. To learn more, please visit http://www.nba.com/
PHILADELPHIA’S RIVERS EARNS SPOT AS HEAD COACH
OF TEAM DURANT IN 2021 NBA ALL-STAR GAME
NEW YORK, Feb. 19, 2021 – Philadelphia 76ers head coach Doc Rivers and his staff will coach Team Durant in the 2021 NBA All-Star Game, which will be played on Sunday, March 7 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.
With tonight’s 112-105 home victory over the Chicago Bulls, Philadelphia (20-10, .667) clinched the best record in the Eastern Conference through games played on Sunday, Feb. 21, earning Rivers a spot as an NBA All-Star Game head coach for the third time. He guided the Eastern Conference in the 2008 and 2011 NBA All-Star Games as the Boston Celtics’ head coach.
Each head coach in the 2021 NBA All-Star Game will lead the team that includes the captain from the same conference. Rivers and his staff will coach the All-Star team captained by the Brooklyn Nets’ Kevin Durant. As previously announced, Utah Jazz head coach Quin Snyder and his staff will coach the All-Star team captained by the Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James.
Rivers is in his first season as the 76ers’ head coach after spending the previous seven seasons as the LA Clippers’ head coach. He is Philadelphia’s first NBA All-Star Game head coach since Larry Brown in 2001. Rivers ranks 10th on the league’s career wins list with a record of 963-691 (.582) in 22 NBA seasons. He led the Celtics to the NBA championship in the 2007-08 season.
The 70th NBA All-Star Game is part of NBA All-Star 2021, which will be held on one night, March 7. TNT’s NBA All-Star coverage will begin at 5 p.m. ET with TNT NBA Tip-Off presented by CarMax, followed by the Taco Bell® Skills Challenge and MTN DEW® 3-Point Contest starting at 6:30 p.m. ET. Coverage of the NBA All-Star Game will begin at 8 p.m. ET, with AT&T Slam Dunk taking place at halftime.
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PISTONS-KNICKS GAME ADDED TO SCHEDULE
NEW YORK, Feb. 19, 2021 – The National Basketball Association announced today that it will schedule the Detroit Pistons to play the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Thursday, March 4 at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Pistons-Knicks game was originally targeted for the second half of the season.
NBA TV to Televise Live NCAA Division I Women’s & Men’s Basketball Games
HBCUs Grambling State University & Jackson State University,
in Celebration of Black History Month – Monday, Feb. 22
Southwestern Athletic Conference’s Jackson State to Host Grambling State in Back-to-Back
Conference Games at 3 p.m. ET
Studio Coverage with Stephanie Ready, Sam Mitchell & Ro Parrish to Start at 2:30 p.m.
NBA TV, in partnership with the Southwestern Athletic Conference, will televise back-to-back live NCAA Division I Women’s and Men’s Basketball Games between Historically Black Universities Grambling State University and Jackson State University in honor of Black History Month on Monday, Feb. 22. The pair of SWAC conference games will tip at 3 p.m. ET (Women’s game) and 5:30 p.m. (Men’s game), respectively, with Ro Brown (play-by-play) and Deuce McCallister (analyst) to call the action.
Pregame, halftime and postgame studio coverage will be led by Stephanie Ready, Sam Mitchell and Ro Parrish starting at 2:30 p.m. Coverage throughout the afternoon will also feature special guests including JSU’s legendary Sonic Boom of the South Marching Band.
Last month, the NBA TV family lost Sekou Smith, who served as a reporter and analyst for the network and was an alumnus of Jackson State. In celebration of Smith’s life, the Hang Time Podcast has premiered a special three-episode series this week. Conversations featuring Smith’s friends and colleagues include Jemele Hill/Marc Spears, Lang Whitaker/Rick Fox, Master Tesfatsion/Logan Murdock, John Schuhmann/Gary Washburn, Marcus Thompson/Jason Jackson, David Aldridge/Shaun Powell and Chris Haynes/Dennis Scott.
UTAH’S SNYDER EARNS SPOT AS HEAD COACH
OF TEAM LEBRON IN 2021 NBA ALL-STAR GAME
NEW YORK, Feb. 19, 2021 – Utah Jazz head coach Quin Snyder and his staff will coach Team LeBron in the 2021 NBA All-Star Game, which will take place on Sunday, March 7 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.
As head coach of the team with the best record in the Western Conference through games played on Sunday, Feb. 21, Snyder has earned a spot as an NBA All-Star Game head coach for the first time. He is the Jazz’s second NBA All-Star Game head coach, joining Frank Layden (1984).
Each head coach in the NBA All-Star Game will lead the team that includes the captain from the same conference. Snyder will coach the All-Star team captained by the Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James. The head coach of the team with the Eastern Conference’s best record through games played on Feb. 21 will coach the All-Star team captained by the Brooklyn Nets’ Kevin Durant.
Snyder has guided the Jazz to an NBA-leading record of 24-5 (.828) this season, the best start to a season in franchise history through 29 games. Utah will be seeking its 10th consecutive victory when it visits the LA Clippers tonight at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Snyder, the NBA Western Conference Coach of the Month for games played in December and January, is in his seventh season as Utah’s head coach. He has posted a career record of 295-216 (.577) and led the Jazz to four straight playoff appearances.
The 70th NBA All-Star Game is part of NBA All-Star 2021, which will be held on one night, March 7. TNT’s NBA All-Star coverage will begin at 5 p.m. ET with TNT NBA Tip-Off presented by CarMax, followed by the Taco Bell® Skills Challenge and MTN DEW® 3-Point Contest starting at 6:30 p.m. ET. Coverage of the NBA All-Star Game will begin at 8 p.m. ET, with AT&T Slam Dunk taking place at halftime.
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