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Atlanta (AP) - Despite his criticism of an NBA All-Star game in the midst of the corona pandemic, superstar LeBron James then had a lot of fun.
The Los Angeles Lakers basketball professional recorded the fourth win in his fourth game as captain of an All-Star team in Atlanta with a 170: 150 against Team Durant and especially celebrated the interaction with Stephen Curry from the Golden State Warriors .
«It was the first time I was on a team with Steph and it was an honor.
It was great to be out there with Steph and Giannis on the field, "said James immediately after the last throw of the final result in the State Farm Arena.
While the outstanding Giannis Antetokounmpo was recognized by the Milwaukee Bucks as the most valuable player in the All-Star game and thus honored for the 35 points and a perfect rate of 16 hits in 16 throws, James had already appeared at his press conference in a shower.
With all the joy of the sometimes spectacular basketball of his team around him, Curry, Antetokounmpo and Luka Doncic: Every additional minute of break until the start of the second half of the season with the Lakers was worth the 36-year-old superstar's quick goodbye.
Only Mike Conley (Utah Jazz) from the Durant team also played fewer minutes than James.
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“All in all, I would say the league did a good job.
We as players have done our job and are now preparing for the second half of the season, ”said James.
The fact that the players had to move to Atlanta after the shortest summer break in NBA history in the pandemic instead of being able to use the days to regenerate, national player Dennis Schröder's teammate had clearly criticized in recent weeks.
For the NBA, the game is very important for financial reasons.
The fact that Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons were told by the Philadelphia 76ers on the morning of the 70th edition that they were not allowed to play seemed to confirm the critics.
According to US media reports, her hairdresser has tested positive for the corona virus.
But there has never been any contact with the other professionals.
Curry hadn't been a fan of the event earlier this year either.
“It was obviously a tightrope act,” said the 32-year-old.
"Mission accomplished, it seems."
But the builder was able to make friends with the format: "Having everything in one evening is kind of cool."
He just missed the fans a lot.
According to the broadcasting TV station TNT, 2500 people were in the hall, mainly families and friends of the players.
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Curry had a lot of fun on the pitch.
With team-mate Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers) he delivered an internal competition for the three-point from the greatest distance.
After a template from Chris Paul (Phoenix Suns), the only 1.90 meter tall Curry managed an alley oop, seconds later Curry retaliated and made Paul a template, which the 1.85 meter tall guard caught in the air and completed into a dunk .
"That was the only thing that was choreographed tonight," reported Curry.
In the three-way competition before the game, Curry had already shown his whole class and won for the second time since 2015.
Domantis Sabonis of the Indiana Pacers won the “Skill Contest” on the course with various tasks.
Anfernee Simons of the Portland Trail Blazers won the slam dunk contest at halftime.
On the last try, he almost kissed the ring.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210308-99-731177 / 2
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