When the NBA’s best players gather together for All-Star Weekend, hopefully they can address an unsettled issue.
No, it’s not about solving the never-ending GOAT debate. It’s not about determining the leading MVP candidate, either. This question bodes more importance and substance than those topics.
The inquiry: Will the NBA All-Stars actually care about the NBA All-Star Game?
During last year’s yawner, the players once again revealed indifference to defense. That isn’t necessarily an issue. Fans don’t expect players to slap the floor, take charges and display Game 7 intensity in an All-Star game. They expect the stars, however, to put on an entertaining show. That seemed like an inconvenience, too. With exception to Boston Celtics teammates Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown going head-to-head on a few possessions, the rest of the game featured the world’s best players acting like they would rather be elsewhere.
In hopes to address that issue, the NBA has returned to the traditional East vs. West format for this year’s All-Star game on Sunday in Indianapolis. That means no captains will pick their teammates regardless of conference affiliation. The NBA All-Star game will also feature a normal scoring format with a 12-minute fourth quarter. That means teams won’t have to reach a targeted score.
Making the NBA All-Star Game more competitive
Perhaps last year’s criticisms and the reverted format will inspire the NBA’s stars to make this year’s All-Star game worthwhile. It will give them a chance to paint a redemption story. It will give them an opportunity to prove they actually care about the All-Star selection as much as the game itself. No doubt, NBA players individually and collectively can outline that narrative. Long-term, though, will they keep that same passion?
It’s impossible and unfair to expect the current NBA All-Stars to replicate exactly how the previous generation treated the All-Star game. NBA teams have more advanced medical staffs that take better care of their players’ bodies. The current NBA players often train nearly year-round. And though all parties should do a better job with prioritizing gameday availability, modern NBA players have ensured more longevity with players, front offices and medical staffs prioritizing long-term health.
It is fair to ask, however, for the NBA All-Star game to be treated as an actual tentpole event to entertain fans than just a mindless exhibition meant to appease corporate sponsors. It also has become troubling that the NBA keeps feeling compelled to offer new incentives in hopes to enhance the All-Star game’s competitiveness.
After seeing the All-Star games reach close to 200 points for a single team in 2016 and 2017, the NBA then implemented some changes. Both to spark promotional buzz and to lead to a better game, the NBA had each conference’s leading vote-getter to become captains and select their own teammates regardless of affiliation. To promote the league’s community work, the winner of the team received a financial award given to its preferred charity.
For the 2020 All-Star game, the NBA also introduced the “Elam Ending.” After playing the first three quarters under the normal 12-minute format in each quarter, both teams had to hit a target score that totaled the leading team’s total score after three quarters and an additional 24 points in honor of the late Kobe Bryant.
Both concepts seemed to work. Intrigue centered on which captains would choose which players in the draft. Subplots emerged on current alliances, apparent beefs and possible future partnerships on an actual team.
As for the game itself, the All-Stars took the game more seriously. They had to stay close through the first three quarters to avoid having to over extend themselves to reach the target score. Both teams had incentive to win without milking the clock so that they could end the game in a suitable manner.
That format backfired last year. The draft format received some pushback because the perceived politicking and slights fed the NBA soap opera more than excitement about the actual game. Even with the Elam Ending, both teams seemed intent on putting the game away with long-distance dagger 3s than with strong crunch-time play. So now we’re back to how the NBA All-Star game used to be.
Will player criticism lead to NBA All-Star Game changes?
Amid player-focused criticism, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver shared recently on ESPN that Chris Paul also relayed criticism that the prolonged pregame and halftime presentations disrupt the players’ routines. The implicit message: If the NBA values the All-Star game’s bells and whistles over its actual substance, why should the players care as much about the game?
Fair point, and there’s no disputing the NBA can tweak the length of those shows. Then again, the Super Bowl presents even more commercialized and elaborate pregame and half-time presentations. That may require NFL players to adjust their routines to excel in the most important game of their season. An All-Star game certainly does not represent that importance, but it shouldn’t be much of an ask for NBA players to treat the All-Star game as it should be.
No one is asking for intricate play calls or schemes. No one is asking any of the stars to log heavy minutes. No one is asking them to compete so hard that they could injure themselves or leave them further fatigued before the regular season resumes. NBA fans simply want their stars to entertain them with highlights, competitiveness and enthusiasm.
It shouldn’t take any incentives for NBA players to perform that way. It also shouldn’t take outside criticism for players to change their behavior, either. Even if both All-Star teams put on a better show to make up for last year’s snoozefest, they need to operate that way in future All-Star games, too.
If not, what’s the point of even having an All-Star game in the first place?
Mark Medina is an NBA insider for Sportsnaut. Follow him on X, Instagram, Facebook and Threads.