The 2024 All-Star game is behind us and the usual debates have been clogging up the comments sections of our favourite social media channels. No defence, get rid of the Slam Dunk Contest, Kenny Smith's commentary and so on...
However, contrary to my British instincts, I'd like to move away from the negatives for a moment and focus on some of the more positive things that happened throughout the weekend.
Let's start with the obvious. Steph vs Sabrina was an instant hit. The men/women's basketball debate is old, tired and largely irrelevant considering how different their respective games are. Shooting is a level playing field, though, and the NBA's decision to include this competition proved to be a resounding success and a fan favourite. Respect to both Stephen and Sabrina for being willing to be involved. Can't wait to see how this evolves!
The LED court that was showcased on All-Star Saturday was amazing. This is something that we've seen before and was even debuted here in Europe last year, but having it at ASW means that this is likely to become a pro-basketball standard over the coming years. Don't get me wrong, I have some reservations (I'd hate to see a technological glitch move the 3-point line at a crucial point in a game), but overall I feel that it's an exciting addition to basketball.
Shooting is a level playing field, and the NBA's decision to include this competition proved to be a resounding success and a fan favourite.
Sammy on the Sabrina vs Steph Shoot-out
I have hope for the dunk contest. Hear me out. Let's not pretend that this is the first year that the dunk contest has been underwhelming. There have probably only been around 5 throughout the history of the competition that were watchable. (some of the ones in the 90s were horrible!)
I think that the addition of Mac McClung over the last 2 years suggests that the NBA is willing to do something a little more drastic to make the competition more engaging. YouTube is full of pro dunkers doing things that have never been seen on an NBA court - I wouldn't be surprised if some YouTube stars become familiar ASW faces in the next couple of years.
It's also worth mentioning that the 3-point contest is now more relevant than it has ever been, especially considering how significant the 3-point shot has become over the past decade. Also, I think we need to simply lower our expectations of the actual All-Star game itself.
It's not as competitive as it was 20 years ago, but it's also become much more of a media circus than it once was. Ultimately, it's an event that caters for the fans who attend, celebrates the basketball significance of the city that hosts and is an enjoyable couple of days for the players - even if this doesn't translate very well onto our TV screens.
Long live All-Star weekend, may it continue to push the game forward and break barriers in all directions, one year at a time.
