This past weekend, the NBA took its biggest event to the biggest stage. The world’s most famous arena, Madison Square Garden, played host to basketball’s most infamous game, the NBA All-Star Game.
It’s a chance for the game’s true stars to gather on a global stage and promote the game they love, and where better to host the event than New York City, the Mecca of basketball?
But at a certain point, fanfare turns into absurdity, and that line was crossed years ago.
The NBA All-Star Game, and All-Star weekend for that matter, has transcended the game of basketball entirely. It’s now no longer just about the game but about the dunk contest and the three-point competition and the skills challenge and, for some reason, there’s now a style show.
The NBA is going too fast, and it’s time to pump the brakes on all of this change. Don’t get me wrong, the All-Star Game is a great tradition with some spectacular moments.
Watching Magic Johnson come out of retirement and win the game’s MVP award? Classic and memorable. Watching J.R. Smith strut down the runway in a mink coat? Unnecessary and disturbing.
And what ever happened to the dunk contest? Zach LaVine won this year’s dunk competition, and deservedly so. But he’s not a star. Forgive me for being picky, but isn’t it supposed to be the All-Star weekend?
No disrespect to LaVine, but the rookie is averaging 7.6 points per game as part of the worst team in the league. Sorry, but that’s not star power.
What happened to the legendary slams with Jordan, Vince and Dominique? Call me crazy, but I say something is wrong when Jeremy Evans, a reserve for the Jazz who averages 1.3 points per game, has as many slam dunk titles as Vince Carter, arguably the greatest dunker of his era.
But let’s not forget about the main event: the All-Star Game itself.
When you put 24 of the world’s most talented athletes under the same roof, you’re bound to see a great show. At least that’s what you’d think.
But that’s no longer the case. The effort in the All-Star game is at an all-time low, and that’s a shame.
Sure, the game doesn’t really matter. But this is world-class talent we’re talking about. If for nothing else, play for your own pride. LeBron James is the best basketball player in the world. Don’t tell me he couldn’t swat a layup into next week if he wanted to.
Even if you’re not going to try, at least try to pretend. I saw James Harden put up 29 points on Sunday night. I also saw him watch from half-court as the man he was supposed to defend hurdled unguarded to the hoop.
The game has become an unnecessary offensive display. If I wanted to see monster dunks, I would watch the slam dunk competition. If I wanted to see raining threes, I would watch the three-point contest.
What I want to see from the NBA All-Star Game is less than 300 points scored in a game. I want to see some real competition. Give me a game that I can watch for more than three minutes before second-guessing my decision to tune in.
Don’t get me wrong, the All-Star Game is in an institution and a tradition. But there needs to be some change, and until that happens, a mink-clad J.R. Smith will keep parading around New York City.