The current NBA All-Star Game product is the epitome of “we’re losing recipes.” Last year, I made the grave mistake of watching the All-Star Game, and boy was it horrid. The game ended 186-211 in favor of the Eastern Conference. The game took playing no defense to all-time lows. It just wasn’t compelling. And that’s been the main complaint of the NBA’s mid-season showcase for the better part of a decade now. Questions arise when you begin to think about why the quality of play has waned during these games. Why don’t the players care? Do players want to have memorable All-Star Game moments like the ones they grew up watching? What’s a distinct difference between players of this generation and the last? I have some guesses as to what these answers are.
Growing up, I saw a bunch of memorable moments from the NBA All-Star Game, from Michael Jordan’s final appearance in an overtime thriller, to Shaq and Kobe both playing in the West again after their split. Players just seemed to care more. Becoming the All-Star MVP was really a title that felt like it had some weight to it. I can remember Tracy McGrady introducing throwing the ball off the backboard to yourself in an actual game. Who could even forget LeBron James guarding Bryant in the closing moments of Bryant’s last all-star appearance? The common denominator to me here is that there’s a generation of players who cared.
These players understood, in a real way, the path that was paved for them to be able to exhibit their skills at this lucrative level. That’s not to say that today’s basketball stars don’t work hard. They’re the most skillful arguably of all of the eras. But they don’t exhibit the same fervor for the game in masse. With branding being so much of a focal, everyone’s brand seems to be in some kind of risk during all-star weekend. So, it seems players don’t want to be on the wrong end of a highlight, as it may interfere with their marketability.
An argument has also been made that players are exhausted from the amount of parties and activations their brand they represent have during that weekend as well. So when it’s time to hit the court, players have but so much effort to give. In my best Road Warrior “Hawk” voice, “Well!” we should find a way to rectify that. Maybe fewer activations are the key? Why isn’t the game the priority? All too often capitalism just sullies what was once such a pure and joyous happening.
Take it from me: fans want to see some semblance of a competitive game. In last year’s showing, we didn’t even get the fabled defense in the fourth quarter that’s usually touted in these games. When you play as blasé as players have in recent years, you can accurately assume that players don’t care. For the amount of money fans pay to attend these events, we’d really appreciate players caring at the very least. As it stands right now, we can’t tell.
Last week, ESPN reported that the All-Star Game will be going under yet another reformatting. It’ll now be played under a mini-tournament-type format that will also include the rookie and sophomore players of the league. It’s yet another attempt to conjure up competitive juices in these players. I don’t think it’s a great idea, and I don’t think it’ll work. The only thing that’ll work will be less events for players to make appearances at, and some good ole introspection. Do they really want to be remembered for playing in an era with the absolute worst series of All-Star Games? Maybe, I guess it doesn’t hurt so bad when you’re laughing all the way to the bank.
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