The NBA All-Star game once represented a fun venue for stars to put on a show of the highest level of defense and offense synchronized to create an enjoyable viewing experience. However, in the 2024 All-Star game, there were many complaints with the players’ performance and overall scheme of the game.
Senior and NBA fan Avi Verma said the recent manner of the All-Star game was a letdown to fans.
“This year’s game was similar to the ones in the last two years,” Verma said. “It was very uncompetitive with little action going on on the offensive end.”
The lack of defense can be seen in the almost combined 400 points allowed in the 2024 game. Verma said because there are no set expectations in terms of scoring, players don’t seem to have defensive and offensive adjustments during the game.
“The threshold of points is too arbitrary and it fosters an offensive minded game that messes with the defensive rhythm,” Verma said. “If you let the game roll out like a normal game with normal refereeing, you would see a more realistic basketball game.”
Additionally, Verma said there should be a monetary incentive for players to try in the all star game.
“Whether it’s giving them money or doing a system like the play-in system, then players can be more inclined to try during these games,” Verma said. “Sometimes there is too much emphasis on the finals, and not on other events like these.”
Additionally, junior and NBA fan Alexander Benkard said the lack of defense from the players during the game is due to the influence of Lebron James and Stephen Curry.
“Lebron first started a trend about not participating in the dunk contest,” Benkard said. “This took away a lot of enthusiasm around the All-Star weekend and due to Curry’s transformation of the three point shot, a lot of defense simply doesn’t exist around the perimeter.”
Benkard also said players who fear injury should still treat the game as any other.
“Even though there is a relatively low risk of injury, players need to try during the All-Star game in order to give the fans what they want,” Benkard said.
Senior and NBA fan Ben Wolfe also said players should treat the All-Star game as any other regular season game when prepping their mentality.
“If these superstars can try their hardest in useless regular season games and in practice, they should also try when they get on TV (and) simply play their hardest,” Wolfe said.
Wolfe said he believes the game should be attached to an incentive.
“I think the winners should be granted home court advantage during the finals,” Wolfe said.
In the past, the All-Star game has always been dangerous for players. If they get injured in a low pressure game, they may miss important games for no reason. However, Verma said he believes the philosophy pushed by Miami Heat guard Jimmy Butler that players have an obligation to try their best at every game applies in the All-Star game as well.
“You can follow what Jimmy Butler says –– players have a personal responsibility to show up to every game,” Verma said. “You have people who are paying hundreds of dollars for these All-Star game tickets, and they come to see their favorite players. Though there is injury risk during the game, at the end of the day, the NBA is a form of entertainment.”
