ESPN Australia New Zealand will bring all the action of the 2021 NBA All-Star Game, live and exclusive from Atlanta on Monday.
The 2021 NBA All-Star has a new look, with all of the beloved NBA All-Star Weekend events, such as the NBA All-Star Skills Challenge, NBA All-Star Three-Point Contest, NBA All-Star Slam Dunk Contest and the 2021 NBA All-Star Game now packed into a bumper schedule on the same day.
Previously spread across two-days, 2021 sees the biggest NBA All-Star event Australian and New Zealand hoops fans have ever seen.
ESPN’s coverage begins at 9am AEDT with the NBA All-Star Pre-Game show.
The first of the NBA All-Star events then follows at 10.30am AEDT with the NBA All-Star Skills Challenge and the NBA All-Star Three-Point Contest.
Then, the main event begins at 12pm AEDT with the 2021 NBA All-Star Game.
Team LeBron lines up against Team Durant, despite the Brooklyn Nets star missing the All-Star Game through injury.
Boston’s Jayson Tatum has replaced Durant as starter, and Tatum will be joined by Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bradley Beal, Joel Embiid and Kyrie Irving in the starting five for Team Durant.
Australian star Ben Simmons will be in reserve for Team Durant, his third NBA All-Star appearance.
Team LeBron sees the Lakers star line up alongside starters Steph Curry, Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic and Kawhi Leonard.
Chris Paul, Paul George and Young gun Zion Williamson, are also in reserve for Team LeBron.
The 2021 NBA All-Star Game will continue with the same competitive format as debuted in the 2020 edition. The two teams will compete to win each quarter for nominated charities, with the fourth quarter untimed, as players play to a Final Target Score.
This ensures that the game will end with a made basket or a made free throw, instead of the clock running out.
Half time is no time to reach for the refreshments, with the NBA All-Star Slam Dunk contest to feature at the main break in the 2021 NBA All-Star Game.
Last year’s Dunk Contest was taken out by Miami’s Derrick Jones Jr and the 2021 instalment should provide similar fireworks.
ESPN will also have dedicated NBA Mini’s, tailored for fans who cannot watch the action live on Monday.
One NBA All-Star Mini will focus solely on the NBA All-Star Game, with another dedicated to all the excitement of the NBA All-Star Skills Challenge, NBA All-Star Three Point Contest and NBA All-Star Slam Dunk Contest.
ESPN will also broadcast the TNT NBA All-Star Selection show on Friday March 5 at 12pm AEDT, which will be followed by the final game before the All-Star break, between the Miami Heat and New Orleans Pelicans.
2021 NBA All-Star on ESPN
Friday March 5
12pm AEDT, TNT NBA All-Star Selection Show, ESPN
12.30pm AEDT, Miami Heat vs New Orleans Pelicans, ESPN
Monday March 8
9am AEDT, NBA All-Star Pre-Game Show, ESPN
10.30am AEDT, NBA All-Star Skills Challenge and NBA All-Star Three Point Contest, ESPN
12pm AEDT, 2021 NBA All-Star Game- Team LeBron vs Team Durant, ESPN
- The 2021 NBA All-Star Slam Dunk Contest will feature at half-time of the 2021 NBA All-Star Game
