And I want to start with you, Paul Pierce, because unfortunately, no one else on this show has played in an All Star game and you played in 10 of them.

So what's been your reaction to the talks about having an All Star Game?

If you're a guy and it's your first time playing in one, you want to see an All Star Game happened amidst the cove, it pandemic.

Yeah, I don't mind seeing the All Star Game happened.

I mean, the things that are gonna go through with having the All Star Game is the same thing that the players are going through now.

You know, they already travel.

They're going through their protocols.

But I feel LeBron on this.

The excitement of the All Star Game is just not the same when you have to travel, uh, for the All Star Game, you get excited for the festivities, be amongst your peers, networking with the top business sponsors out there, or just even partygoers doing appearances for the fans.

It's all for the fans, and those things are not gonna happen.

And I can understand.

I can understand LeBron James not being excited about the All Star Game.

Being that we're in a pandemic, Why put yourself at risk?

And I could see him feeling that, and I understand his frustration on that.

He's played in the finals.

He only had 70 plus days off and now an All Star game.

He probably had travel plans.

I'm trying to tell you exactly 71 days Paul Pierce for the L A Lakers as they were trying to get a little bit of a break in.

But J will kind of what say you zero excitement zero Energy is what LeBron says he feels about this all star game.

Yeah, I'm with Brown on this Mt.

And I've been I've been vehemently against them having All Star Game due to the pandemic and things that are going on but the same time Look, these guys are going to be there, and it does put into perspective what the cause was of the MBA for things that happened with George Floyd and what they're doing.

An HBCU community down there.

These things are happening.

And look, I I talked to one executive earlier on today and they kind of look at it differently.

They're looking at it from the P O.

V.

From Hey, we're actually flying our top elite players down to one place where it's going to be like a bubble.

We're actually gonna be protecting our assets more never than allowing them Thio just disperse and go to different places throughout the country for vacation.

But we can't really mandate or understand what they're doing.

So if it's a controlled environment and security is at an all time high, even though we might think that some people might be responsible or sneak irresponsible or sneak out, that's how the executive looks at it.

And we'll see if first you're second tier guys decide to go down there.

Yeah, I think one of the keys that always keeps reporting is in 36 hours to get the guys in, get him out, have the game played.

But Jalen Rose, do you want to see an All Star game this season?

I do want to see an All Star game.

What I don't want to see in Atlanta is courtside Karen, So I'm glad LeBron made sure that that won't take place.

What I also am happy about is the essential workers that serve wings at Magic City are gonna be happy that an All Star game is taking place.

But in all honesty, when I get confused and Paul Pierce played a 10 All Star Games, I like toe.

Follow the money, and it's in everyone's best interest that this game takes place.

If we're gonna play meaningless games.

And I'm talking about teams that are going to the lottery that can play on the Wednesday Thursday Friday night on a regular evening when players are missing games due to Cove, it and teams records are being affected.

All Star Game to celebrate the game.

And again.

Paul, you mentioned it.

It's an all Star game, not All Star weekend.

Most of those people so many hangers in Atlanta they're gonna fly in after five PM between five and 10.

They're gonna be there between 24 36 hours, and everybody's gonna be on the private plane Sunday night, headed somewhere and also in that game promoting their brand.

Because LeBron James gets big money from the Lakers.

He gets more money from Nike, so it's important that he plays in the game.

I understand his sediments and he's exactly right after 71 days having a short off season.

But it's important for the lead that this game is played well.

Jalen Rose, You've successfully, like, slapped my city in the face and giving it a high five and lifted it up.

So we, you know, we appreciate you coming from Detroit coming for Atlanta, but you're welcome any time you want.

Okay, we'll see.

Obviously, March 7th is the date that the All Star Game is slated, and we will see which players would be willing to go and play under the current circle size.

Eight down, down.

Thanks for watching ESPN on YouTube for live streaming sports and premium content.

Subscribe to ESPN, plus.