Pelicans’ Zion Williamson to replace 76ers’ Joel Embiid as starter for Team Durant in 2021 NBA All-Star Game
New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson will replace Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid in the starting lineup for Team Durant in the 2021 NBA All-Star Game.
NEW YORK – New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson will replace Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid in the starting lineup for Team Durant in the 2021 NBA All-Star Game, which will be played tonight at State Farm Arena in Atlanta (8 p.m. ET, TNT and ESPN Radio).
According to NBA rules, if an All-Star Game starter is unable to participate in the game after the All-Star Draft has been conducted, the head coach of his All-Star team will name a replacement starter from that team’s group of reserves.
Team Durant head coach Doc Rivers of the 76ers selected Williamson to replace Embiid, who will not play today in accordance with the NBA’s Health and Safety Protocols.
TNT’s NBA All-Star coverage will begin today 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. ESPN Radio will also air the NBA All-Star Game and AT&T Slam Dunk.
Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2020 Enshrinement Ceremony to Air Saturday; ESPN Commentators Mike Breen and Mike Wilbon to Receive Prestigious Curt Gowdy Media Awards
Western Conference-leading Utah Jazz and Jordan Clarkson Host the Portland Trail Blazers and Damian Lillard at 9:30 p.m. ET as Part of Wednesday Doubleheader Action
ESPN’s extensive 2020-21 NBA regular season coverage comes to a close this week with a Wednesday night doubleheader and a Friday night match-up. ESPN will also cover events from the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2020 induction ceremony, on Saturday, May 15, beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET.
Wednesday doubleheader ESPN’s Wednesday night doubleheader tips off at 7 p.m., as the Washington Wizards and Russell Westbrook take on the Atlanta Hawks and Trae Young. Curt Gowdy Media Award Winner Mike Breen and ESPN NBA analyst Mark Jackson will have the call. ESPN Radio will broadcast the Wizards vs. Hawks match-up with play-by-play commentator Marc Kestecher and analyst Jon Barry describing the action. At 9:30 p.m., the action continues on ESPN as the Western Conference-leading Utah Jazz and Jordan Clarkson host the Portland Trail Blazers and Damian Lillard. Dave Pasch and Hall of Fame broadcaster Doris Burke will provide commentary.
NBA Friday On Friday, game action tips off on ESPN at 9:30 p.m., as the New Orleans Pelicans and Lonzo Ball visit the Golden State Warriors and Stephen Curry. MarkJones and ESPN NBA analyst Richard Jefferson will be on the call. NBA Countdown will preview Friday’s coverage beginning at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN with host Maria Taylor.
Sunday Doubleheader ESPN’s regular season game coverage concludes on Sunday, May 16, with an afternoon doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. followed by a 3:30 p.m. game. NBA Countdown will provide pregame coverage beginning at noon. Sunday’s matchups will be announced later this week.
Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony ESPN will televise the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2020 Enshrinement Ceremony on Saturday, May 15, at 5:30 p.m. live from Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, CT. The ceremony will be hosted by Ahmad Rashad and include a performance by multi-Grammy Award-winning artist NE-YO. Over 50 Hall of Famers are expected to be in attendance, including Michael Jordan, who will serve as a presenter for the posthumous induction of 18-time NBA All-Star and five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant.
Additional inductees to include FIBA executive Patrick Baumann, ten-time WNBA All-Star and four-time Olympic gold medalist Tamika Catchings,15-time NBA All-Star and three-time NBA Finals MVP Tim Duncan, 15-time NBA All-Star and nine-time NBA All-Defensive First Team selection Kevin Garnett, three-time NCAA National Championship Coach Kim Mulkey, five-time Division II National Coach of the Year Barbara Stevens, four-time collegiate National Coach of the Year Eddie Sutton, and two-time NBA Champion coach Rudy Tomjanovich.
Prior to the ceremony, at 3:30 p.m. ESPN will air the Hall of Fame Awards Celebration and Gala (the event is held Friday, May 14). The telecast will include ESPN commentators Mike Breen and Michael Wilbon receiving prestigious Curt Gowdy Media Awards. The telecast will also include the John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award for Tim Nugent, plus recognitions for Jim Gray and TNT’s Inside the NBA, as well as Mannie Jackson Human Spirit Award recipients Wayne Embry, Bill Russell and George Raveling. ESPN’s Lisa Salters will serve as the emcee for the ceremony.
The Jump ESPN’sThe Jump continues to air weekdays at 3 p.m., hosted by Rachel Nichols with a rotating cast of high-profile analysts and reporters including Marc Spears, Brian Windhorst, Kendrick Perkins, Vince Carter, Zach Lowe and Matt Barnes.
On Thursday, May 13, Reigning WNBA Champions Sue Bird and Breanna Stewart will join The Jump ahead of the start of the WNBA season. ESPNcommentator Michael Wilbon will also join the show before heading to his Hall of Fame induction.
ESPN.com Tuesday on ESPN.com, as Michael Jordan prepares to induct Kobe Bryant into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, he talks to ESPN NBA senior writer Jackie MacMullan on the last time they communicated. Also on Tuesday, with the 2021 NBA Playoffs picture coming into focus, ESPN.com forecasts the next three seasons for all 30 teams. Later this week, Lowe highlights the underrated players in his annual column, the Luke Walton All Stars, and Kirk Goldsberry examines the signature shots that built the legacies of Bryant, Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett.
Philadelphia 76ers and Ben Simmons Host Milwaukee Bucks and Reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo
The current Eastern Conference leading Philadelphia 76ers and Ben Simmons will host the Milwaukee Bucks and reigning NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo on ESPN this Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET.
Dallas Mavericks and Luka Dončić Host LA Clippers and Kawhi Leonard at 9:30 p.m. on ESPN
The current Eastern Conference leading Philadelphia 76ers and Ben Simmons will host the Milwaukee Bucks and reigning NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo on ESPN this Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET. Mark Jones will provide remote commentary, joined byHall of Fame broadcaster Doris Burke, with Cassidy Hubbarth reporting on site.
Marc Kestecher and Jon Barry will have the call for ESPN Radio starting at 6:30 p.m. Later, the Dallas Mavericks and Luka Dončić host the LA Clippers and Kawhi Leonard at 9:30 p.m. on ESPN. Ryan Ruocco will call the game remotely withESPN NBA analyst Jeff Van Gundy.
ESPN’sThe Jump will air at 2 p.m. Wednesday, with Thursday’s and Friday’s telecasts returning to the 3 p.m. slot. Tuesday, hostRachel Nicholsinterviewed 76ers head coach Doc Rivers. ESPN analysts Paul Pierce and Kendrick Perkins, who played for Rivers, also joined the conversation. The Jump guests this week also include Robert Horry, David Fizdale, Brian Windhorst, Bobby Marks, Ramona Shelburne andMalika Andrews.
This week on ESPN.com, Tim Bontempstalks to league insiders about which teams might be looking to improve at the trade deadline and which players could be available. On Wednesday, Jackie MacMullan dives into Jamal Murray’s epic 2020 playoff run, and how Murray and the Denver Nuggets are dealing with expectations from a season that felt like it never ended.
