Why This All-Star Game Was “Much Better” Than Julius Randle’s First

Julius Randle has already been selected to participate in the NBA All-Star Game, but the COVID-19 pandemic has caused the league to hold its midseason event one day in 2021 in Atlanta.

With no fans present, the 3-point contest and skills contest took place before the game, with the Slam Dunk contest held at halftime.

Randle thinks his current trip to Salt Lake City was more what he always imagined. This is especially true because the Knicks forward was able to share the experience with his family, including his two sons – 6-year-old Kyden and 1-year-old Jayce.

“Yeah. 1,000 percent. That’s way better,” Randle said before scoring 11 points in 20 minutes Sunday night for LeBron James’ team. having fun. My family, my son, Ky, he’s here. He’s having a blast. Jayce, my other kid, is having fun. That’s really what it’s all about for me.

“That’s the best part for me. There’s a lot going on this weekend. Obviously, it’s a celebration for the season everyone has had so far. For me, it’s about spending time with my boys, giving them that experience with my wife and my family.

Celtics Game MVP Jayson Tatum scored an All-Star Game-record 55 points, including 10 from 3 decks, and former Utah star Donovan Mitchell — now with the Cavaliers — scored 40 to lead the team led by Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo to a 184-175 win over Team LeBron.

Tatum’s Boston teammate Jaylen Brown had 35 points while former Net Kyrie Irving and Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid scored 32 points apiece for James’ team.

James notably left the game at half-time with a hand injury, and Antetokounmpo, who was nursing a wrist problem that kept him out of Saturday’s skills competition, only played the 20 first seconds of the first quarter.

His spot could have gone to Jalen Brunson, but the Knicks point guard didn’t join Randle – who was knocked out in the first round of Saturday’s 3-point contest – as an All-Star selection despite multiple injury substitutions named by the league. .

The Knicks were still well represented this weekend, with Jericho Sims entering the Slam Dunk Contest, which was won by G-League guard Mac McClung. Randle was also at Vivint Arena the night before to watch Knicks teammate Quentin Grimes score 27 points in the Jordan Rising Stars Tournament.

“He was awesome. … I know he would have won MVP if their team had won, but he was awesome,” Randle said of Grimes. “For him to come out and put a performance like that in this kind of frame was amazing.”

Randle had said last week that he hoped to be selected by James in Sunday night’s schoolyard-style draft, joking: “It will be fun to [play with him] before he gets his old ass out of here.

“It’s fun. The fans are what make the game. All-Star weekend is obviously amazing, so it’s going to be a fun time,” added Randle, who was the star’s 10th overall pick. Lakers. “Sounds like it’ll be cool not knowing who you’re playing for before the game. … But you can’t really go wrong with either team.

After breaking Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s goalscoring record on February 8, James, 38, said before Sunday’s game – tying Kareem’s record of 19 All-Star selections – that he was “not going to become too crazy” with his recreation.

LeBron also called the Lakers’ final push for a playoff berth after missing last year “23 of the most important regular season games of my career.” But he didn’t play in the second half after appearing to bang his hand against the rim as he tried to block a second-quarter shot.