Portland Trail Blazers shut out of NBA All-Star Weekend

Portland Trail Blazers, Anfernee SImons, Damian Lillard, NBA All-star, NBA All-star weekend, NBA all-star game

MIAMI, FLORIDA – JANUARY 05: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers celebrates with Anfernee Simons #1 against the Miami Heat during the second half at American Airlines Arena on January 05, 2020 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

The 2022 NBA All-Star Weekend is approaching, but there won’t be any Portland Trail Blazers there in uniform

The 2022 NBA All-Star Weekend is almost here. Unfortunately, with Damian Lillard recovering from abdominal surgery, the Portland Trail Blazers will not be represented on the court during the NBA All-Star Game itself in Cleveland Sunday, nor any of the surrounding events.

Last year in Atlanta both Lillard and Anfernee Simons represented the Blazers and made Portland proud. Team LeBron defeated Team Durant 170-150 and Lillard scored 17 points on 11-20 shooting in nearly 20 minutes, and Simons beat out New York’s Obi Toppin for the Slam Dunk Championship.

This year, All-Star weekend will be held in Cleveland, and not a single current Portland player was invited to participate in any of the events. Simons even declined to defend his slam dunk title.

“I just wanted to focus on the season,” Simons told The Athletic’s Jason Quick via HoopsHype, while adding that the title was “more of a checklist accomplishment.”

Even though no current Trail Blazer player will participating, Portland will be well represented. CJ McCollum, who was traded this past week to New Orleans, will participate in the 3-Point Contest.

McCollum at the time this was written is averaging 3 3-pointers in 8 attempts per game (37.9%). Todd Bosma, Portland’s Director of Game Operations, will be in Cleveland helping out with the All-Star events and activities.

It was also reported that Moda Center Public Address Announcer Mark Mason will be participating in the event(s) in some capacity. If you were hoping to see Lillard this weekend, well you just might get your chance – as well as former Blazers Clyde Drexler, Bill Walton, Lenny Wilkens, Scottie Pippen, and Carmelo Anthony and other members of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary team – during a ceremony at halftime.

The 2022 NBA All-Star Game will take place Sunday at 5:00 Pacific Time on TNT/TBS. All-Star Saturday night begins 5:00 on TNT.