NBA All-Star Weekend Is Unparalleled
When it comes to the NBA All-Star game, and all the festivities that it provides, it really is unmatched by any other major sport
When it come to All-Star games in any professional sport, people like to ask the same age-old questions.
How do we make the All-Star game more relevant? How do we implement an incentive, so the players try harder? How do we get more fans interested?
In regards to the NFL, MLB or NHL, those questions might be fair to ask. Because when it comes to those sports, I don’t see enough interest in the All-Star games. When it comes to the NBA, however, the All-Star weekend is as good as it gets.
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There’s no need to ask whether the NBA All-Star game should mean something in terms of the final score. There’s no need to make a dramatic change to the dunk contest or any of the festivities.
It’s simply great as it is.
The critics, including journalists who spend hours talking about this on debate shows, say that the players don’t try hard enough. They say the game is boring because nobody plays defense.
Well, I think these people need to relax and enjoy the game for what it is – a break from the norm.
No matter how much It’s debated, the NBA All-Star game will never be known for a game that’s played hard for 48 minutes.
Rather, it will always be remembered for the moments.
Moments like Magic Johnson’s return to the All-Star game, moments like Jordan’s and Kobe’s last All-Star games, moments like Tracy McGrady throwing an oop to himself.
Other sports like football have desperately tried to match the NBA All-Star weekend.
But the obscure skills challenge activities created by the NFL will never equal the dunk contest or three-point shootout.
Even in recent years as people keep saying the dunk contest is dead, the dunk contest has actually been incredible.
Even with the lack of star power in the dunk contest, new names like Zack LaVine and Aaron Gordon have emerged on Saturday nights.
Thanks in large part to the Celebrity All-Star game, the NBA also brings together entertainers and ballers unlike any other All-Star weekend.
Even before the celebrity game, however, we’ve always seen celebrities turn out in big numbers for the NBA All-Star festivities.
As silly as it is, the Celebrity All-Star game has actually become almost as unforgettable as the All -Star game.
Who doesn’t want to see Kevin Hart doing Kevin Hart things on the basketball court? Who doesn’t want to see Stephen A. Smith acting as head coach and not being so serious about sports for once?
A huge part of the NBA’s success during the All-Star weekend is also due to the presentation. Throughout the years, TNT has especially done an incredible job of presenting us with entertaining and inspiring basketball stories as part of All-Star weekend.
Then there’s legendary play-by-play announcer Marv Albert, who has been the voice of so many incredible All-Star moments.
We definitely can’t say the pro bowl has seen these types of unforgettable moments. Baseball and hockey have seen their share of All-Star moments, but nothing like what we see in the NBA.
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So if you want to change the All-Star game in any other sport, be my guest.
But don’t worry about making the NBA All-Star weekend great again. It’s already great.