The "Basketball" in "National Basketball Association" never meant as little as it did on Sunday night as the league's attempt to inject some much-needed energy and enthusiasm into an NBA All-Star Game that was otherwise on life support may have done more harm than good.
Oddsmakers had it right across the board with the end results as betting favorite Team Shaq and his OG's (+100) prevailed in the championship matchup with Team Chuck's Global Stars by a final score of 41-25. Hometown favorite Stephen Curry (+500) was named the Most Valuable Player for the second time in his career (2022) after connecting on four 3-pointers for 12 points.
The format itself had already been widely criticized before the ball was even tipped in the air, with the All-Stars separated into three teams and a fourth being comprised of the Rising Stars winners on Friday to make up a four-team mini-tournament. Golden State Warriors forward and TNT analyst Draymond Green consistently bashed the idea of allowing players who weren't named All-Stars the opportunity to compete on Sunday, even going as far as giving the concept a score of zero on a scale of 1-to-10 when asked how he truly felt.
"I had to work so hard to play on Sunday night of All-Star Weekend, and because ratings are down, because the game is bad, we're bringing in Rising Stars? That's not a fix," said Green during the broadcast. "I never played in the Rising Stars Game. My first two years I didn't touch that game. And these guys get to touch the All-Star floor? On Sunday night?"
"In America, the president has Air Force One, right? They have several of those planes. It's only Air Force One if the president is on it. That's the All-Star floor. You have the court, you have the events, it's a nice looking court. When the All-Stars are on the court, now it's the All-Star court. Those guys (Rising Stars) did not make the All-Star team. To be playing in the All-Star Game and you didn't make the All-Star team is absurd."
Green certainly wasn't on an island with his mindset, but as many have pointed out, including TNT's Charles Barkley, the reason why the rookies and sophomores had to be involved in the first place was because Green's generation forced necessary change after proving time and time again that putting on a competitive All-Star Game was the least of their worries.
"I'm going to disagree with Draymond A LOT. Listen, we're trying anything," said Barkley during the Team Shaq versus Team Candace game. "I use the analogy like when your kids mess up the house, you make them clean up and they're complaining. They messed the game up. That's why we're trying kamikaze stuff out here right now. So his generation messed the game up."
"So don't act like he's mad because they're trying to use rookies and ... we're doing every type of trick to make this weekend exciting."
Thankfully, there were glimpses of actual defense being played throughout the three contests, with Victor Wembanyama standing out as someone who was putting his best foot forward in an effort to stir up some competition. He was even noticeably upset when his squad gave up an uncontested dunk to lose the championship to Team Shaq, although Wembanyama's Team Chuck was down huge on the scoreboard at the time.
Truth be told, though, if you're able to remember any of the action which took place at the Chase Center on Sunday, you'd be one of the few. With the way the event was produced, both in-arena and for the television audience, it's as if someone behind the scenes wanted you to feel that the sport itself wasn't as important as having frivolous time wasters, entertainment acts, and nonstop commercial breaks.
League officials must have had a checklist on hand for how best to cater to Generation Z viewers to maintain their interest. Have the No. 1 YouTuber on the planet in Mr. Beast attempt to give away $100,000 in a shooting drill with Damian Lillard which nearly backfires? Check. Parade comedian Kevin Hart out on the hardwood as the MC for jokes which fail to land more often than they illicit a reaction? Double check.
And then, in a prime example of how not to allocate time, with the score 11-1 in the championship game, the action had to be paused in order for the "Inside the NBA" crew of Barkley, Shaquille O'Neal, Kenny Smith, and Ernie Johnson to be honored at center court with All-Star Weekend leaving the network starting next season.
Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown was shown on the sidelines seemingly displaying his frustration with how long the tribute was taking, which was likely a universal sentiment from all of those playing.
Jaylen Brown "Get them outta here" pic.twitter.com/NPYAbpDxPe
— CJ Fogler 🫡 (@cjzero) February 17, 2025
Per The Athletic's Esfandiar Baraheni, when adding together the amount of time the three games took to unfold, fans got to witness just over 30 minutes of actual basketball being played. As Baraheni determined, none of the games went beyond 11 minutes, and the broadcast in its totality took over two-and-a-half hours to air, which goes to show just how much filler there was.
Unlike previous years, the players themselves don't deserve the vitriol of the masses this time around, unless you want to poke holes at LeBron James' logic for waiting the night of to reveal that he wasn't going to suit up due to injury, therefore taking an All-Star spot from someone else. The same goes for Anthony Edwards, who also didn't play due to a groin injury and possible cold he had been dealing with. No, beyond that, the players are in the clear here.
While the intentions may have been pure, the All-Star Game did little to make you think that basketball mattered. This wasn't a proper showcase of the best the Association has to offer, as it was more like the equivalent of jingling keys in front of a baby and hoping to generate a smile or cheer. This was the polar opposite of being a celebration of the sport, and that's what this exhibition should be.
The format wasn't perfect, but it was a step in the right direction, although the bar was so low you could tie your shoes over it. Perhaps if it reverts back to the East versus West next year and beyond, we'll be right back to scolding players for a lack of effort and not giving a you know what. Maybe there's no saving the All-Star Game concept at all and the NBA will ultimately need to take a page out of hockey's handbook and try something akin to the 4 Nations Face-Off.
For now, what unfolded on Sunday left a sour taste and one that won't be easily washed out. If that was the final breath of the All-Star Game as we know it (or kind of, anyway), then at least it put up more of a fight than we're accustomed to. It's just a shame its death was expedited by the league having its size 15 shoe pressing down on its neck the entire time.
