NBA
FULL NBA Review From 2021 All-Star Sunday
See the full NBA Review from 2021 All-Star Sunday with entertaining highlights, interesting facts, valuable takeaways, and more!
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An unprecedented All-Star weekend was held in Atlanta where the All-Star Game, Dunk Contest, 3-PT Shootout, and Skills Challenge were all held on the same day for the first time in history. It also featured a limited number of fans and many virtual fans in the building, something the NBA world has become accustomed to over the past year.
While the event had its high points, it was far from the thrilling affair that took place during last year’s All-Star Game. Team LeBron‘s superior squad benefitted from injuries to Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and COVID-related absence to Joel Embiid, making it even more unstoppable. Their 20-point blowout victory was highlighted by Steph & Dame exchanging DEEP 3’s, CP3 breaking Magic’s All-Star assists record, and Giannis having a perfect performance to make history of his own.
Curry was coming off a legendary showing in the 3-point contest where he beat Mike Conley on his final money ball for his second 3-pt trophy. Anfernee Simons blew a kiss at the rim and walked out as the Slam Dunk Champion, while Domantas Sabonis showed bigs have skills too when he won the Skills Challenge.
Other than maybe Dame proving once again that he’s the best closer in the league, the action on Sunday doesn’t actually have any impact on what will happen this season. However, earlier in the day, former Slam Dunk champion and 6x All-Star Blake Griffin decided to sign with the Nets. On the same day that KD couldn’t participate in his own team’s ASG, his real team became arguably the most stacked squad of all-time.
Here are the best NBA highlights, facts, performers, and takeaways from NBA All-Star Sunday, 2021:
Team LeBron (170) vs. Team Durant (150)
[Highlights] LBJ (-191) d. KD (+191) 170-150 [LBJ -4.5 | o317]
Giannis Antetokounmpo facts:
👀🌟📸
— NBA (@NBA) March 8, 2021
The TOP PLAYS from the 2021 #NBAAllStar Game! pic.twitter.com/UYd1Dai0Iy
SIMONS GETTING WAYYY UP.. WATCH #NBAALLSTAR ON TNT!
— NBA (@NBA) March 8, 2021
All 3 dunks from 2021 #ATTSlamDunk champion Anfernee Simons. 🍿 pic.twitter.com/JhSTv7DLj0
Stephen Curry puts up a final round score of 28 and connects on his final two shots to WIN the #MtnDew3PT 🏆 for the 2nd time!
— NBA (@NBA) March 8, 2021
All of #NBAAllStar in One Night LIVE NOW on TNT pic.twitter.com/QOxqZnvpd4
🚨 GET TO TNT NOW TO WATCH ALL OF ALL-STAR IN ONE NIGHT! 🚨
— NBA (@NBA) March 8, 2021
Domantas Sabonis wins #TacoBellSkills by defeating Nikola Vucevic in the final round! pic.twitter.com/YwxJjZQxhc
[Highlights] F Giannis Antetokounmpo, LBJ (v. KD): 35 PTS (16-16 FG | 3-3 3PT), 3 AST, 7 REB, 1 BLK, 1 STL, 3 TO [Player of the Day]
[Highlights] PG Damian Lillard, LBJ (v. KD): 32 PTS (11-20 FG | 8-16 3PT), 1 AST, 2 REB, 0 BLK, 0 STL, 2 TO
[Highlights] PG Steph Curry, LBJ (v. KD): 28 PTS (10-19 FG | 8-16 3PT), 4 AST, 4 REB, 0 BLK, 2 STL, 1 TO
SINCE LEAVING OKC, KD JOINED THE 2 MOST STACKED TEAMS OF ALL-TIME
When Kevin Durant left a title-contender in Oklahoma City to join the 73-9 Warriors that had just eliminated his Thunder in the 2016 WCF, it was considered the weakest move ever by an NBA superstar. KD deciding to leave that juggernaut for New York was respected by his peers much more at the time since it created balance in the NBA again.
However, if they had known the Nets were going to use their assets of draft picks, young players, and cap space to then add 9x All-Star James Harden and 6x All-Star Blake Griffin to pair with the already premier duo in the Eastern Conference of 7x All-Star Kyrie Irving and 11x All-Star Durant, it likely would’ve led to even more criticism. Just two years after the Warriors dynasty ended, the new-look Nets might have built a better lineup than even Golden State had with Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Andre Iguodala, and a hampered DeMarcus Cousins.
Championships have become a major factor in a player’s overall legacy which is why top players have joined loaded rosters as they go ring chasing. Nobody can better exemplify that now than KD himself. From joining what would’ve been considered the greatest team of all-time in 2016 (had it not been for Draymond’s suspension or Steph/Iggy’s nagging injuries, or Barnes‘ historically awful shooting) to now forming a new superteam in Brooklyn, KD is the new face of this generation’s new option to take the easy path.
It doesn’t mean those championships aren’t legitimate. They still have to win 16 playoff games like everyone else. However, basketball is a TEAM sport. Crediting ONE player significantly because he’s on a stacked roster doesn’t make much sense. So in this era of “who’s greater,” the fact that Durant won 0 championships while playing alongside 1 Hall of Famer (Russell Westbrook) will be taken into account if the only time he won a title was while playing on one of two most stacked teams of all-time.
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