NBA Commissioner Adam Silver finally brought fun and entertainment back to the NBA All-Star Game. The Intuit Dome was alive and well, as many first-time All-Stars got to hear their names over the loudspeakers.
Fans roared one after the other with every introduction, and Luka Dončić was smiling ear to ear after hearing his name called for the sixth time. Unfortunately, his introduction would be the most memorable part of his night.
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He finished the game with a mere two points and two assists after playing a minuscule five minutes. No one could’ve foreseen such an uneventful performance from the league’s scoring leader.
Luka’s Lingering Hamstring
The only plausible reason for his behavior is his lingering hamstring injury, but there were no reports of an injury replacement. So, his performance was nothing but an unpleasant surprise for the basketball community.
Out of all the 27 NBA All-Stars, Dončić received the most votes with 3.4 million. He accumulated more than Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, and Victor Wembanyama. As such, seeing the superstar point guard ride the bench with Jokic became a trending topic across social media. However, this is no surprise as the two future Hall of Famers disappointed their fans around the globe.
Power & Great Responsibility
Fans are expected to hold their favorite players accountable, but their grievances turned Sunday evening into a verbal battleground. Members of the media took to social media to defend the players, knowing the playoffs are right around the corner.
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Of course, the All-Star game is trivial in terms of the grand scheme of an NBA season. But the entire point of the NBA is to entertain the fans. All of the young players embraced the spectacle, while the grizzled veterans, desensitized by their success, did not.
The now four-time All-Star, Anthony Edwards, led the charge and stole the show, finishing the three-game series with 32 points. Shortly after defeating the USA Stripes to win the Championship, Edwards was crowned All-Star Game MVP.
A Superstar’s Obligation
He stamped his memorable performance with a memorable post-game interview, calling out his fellow superstars with the world watching.
Edwards’ competitiveness is vital to maintaining the All-Star game’s relevance. This was arguably the best one in the last ten years because of his energy, and Dončić must do his part as well. Now that he’s representing the 17-time champions, he must continue their tradition of dominating the annual celebration.
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Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, and Shaquille O’Neal all won the award on multiple occasions. Bryant has even tied Bob Pettit for the record of four. Luckily for Dončić, he’ll have a chance to redeem himself next season and add his name to this list of legendary Lakers.
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