New York Knicks superstar Jalen Brunson has an idea to make All-Star Game participants actually put in real effort: Put home court for the NBA Finals on the line.
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While ratings for the 2024 NBA All-Star Game received a boost last week, it did not diminish the complaints fans and pundits have had about the yearly event. Over the last decade, as players try to avoid injuries and stay as healthy as possible for the postseason, the effort level during the game has seen a steep decline.
Scoring close to 400 total points has become commonplace, and in this year’s edition, the Eastern Conference team scored and ridiculous 211. The lack of defense and desire to prove which conference has the best players has completely taken the luster off what was once one of the most anticipated All-Star games in sports.
Jalen Brunson stats (2023-24): 27.5 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 6.6 APG, 0.9 SPG, 41% 3 PT
The debate on how to make it better has raged for years now and first-time All-Star Jalen Brunson has now thrown his hat into the discourse. During a new edition of his “Roommates” podcast with teammate Josh Hart, he offered up a way to make the game more meaningful and it is something we have seen in another top league.
“I don’t know if [MLB] does it anymore, but the winner of the All-Star Game [could get] home-court advantage in the finals,” Brunson said (via Sports Illustrated). “That’s cool. I think that’s one way that could at least make it interesting in the fourth quarter.”
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It’s a sensible option since many of the players competing in the All-Star Game will be competing in the spring NBA playoffs intending to reach the finals. Maybe that added benefit could make them play a little defense in the 2025 edition of the game.