In 1983, Marvin Gaye delivered one of the most iconic national anthem performances of all time at the NBA All-Star game in Inglewood, California. Since then, the event has provided incredible memories for basketball.
From Magic Johnson’s 1992 return, to the 2001 thriller when Allen Iverson led the Eastern Conference’s epic fourth quarter comeback, to 2020’s emotional tribute to the late Kobe Bryant, the All-Star game has a history of ratcheting up the competition.
Today, the All-Star game returns to Inglewood at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, but the competitive spirit is all but lost. The game has long been an offensive showcase, but in recent years defense has disappeared: Two years ago, the Eastern Conference All-Stars became the first team in history to score over 200 points.
All-star contests are in decline across all four major American pro sports; just look at the NFL’s Pro Bowl Games. But the current situation has many fans and observers asking a question about the NBA All-Star Game: How does it get fixed
Some players on the ground this weekend have ideas.
Twelve-time All-Star Stephen Curry believes one solution is to lighten players’ workload.
“The only thing I would think about is shortening the game,” Curry said. “Short and sweet is better.” This year’s All-Star Game has a new format, with three teams playing a round-robin tournament in which the games are 12 minutes each.
Curry, a four time NBA champion with the Golden State Warriors, concedes there is no way “to replicate the intensity of a regular season game” for a glorified exhibition, and noted that the off-court events of All-Star Weekend puts extra demands on those playing in the game. Unlike a regular season game or even a playoff game, players have more media, corporate, and fan responsibilities in a three day span before hitting the court on Sunday.
Curry’s former Golden State teammate and current Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant, believes the All-Star Game is being over-examined.
“People at home are complaining about the game and the intensity of it,” Durant said.
“I don’t think we’ll ever get past that, but to see everybody still here, showing up, doing their jobs, pushing the game forward through this weekend, you go around the city, it’s so much energy.”
Durant says those who are complaining are caught up in nostalgia.
“The All-Star Game don’t make them feel like they felt when they were kids,” Durant said, adding that he doesn’t feels no shame in the state of the All-Star Game because he believes its main purpose is celebrating basketball.
“I just really feel like this is a great weekend to bring so many people together and help push the game forward.”
This comes days after Durant called out European players for their lack of effort in All-Star games, citing unfairness in how American players were being judged on the same topic.
For its part, the NBA has done everything it can to improve the product on Sunday, including multiple format changes. This year’s change includes pairing American players against players with international backgrounds.
Now it’s up to a new generation to restore the glorious days of the mid-season classic, but not all of them are onboard with making drastic changes. But if the mindset of Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards is any indication, fans can expect no drastic changes.
When asked if the players will try to play harder in future All-Star games, Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards put it simply.
“It is what it is at this point,” he said.