"Unscripted" 2023 NBA All-Star Game was in a word…BUSTED!
Unscripted
By Keith Edmonds
Ink Spot Contributing Writer
“It's an honor to be here. It's an honor to be a part of a great weekend, great players. But that is the worst basketball game ever played," Mike Malone All Star Game Coach
I really enjoy the game of basketball! For many who know me, that is a HUGE understatement! Now with that being said, I also enjoy a COMPETITIVE game of basketball and that’s not what I saw when I watched the NBA’s version of the 2023 All Star game a few weeks ago now. What we saw was a glorified exhibition of players that had NO interest in being there and even less interest in competing hard! What we witnessed was: No defense, No desire, No passion, and the most “unentertaining” game that we’ve seen in quite some time. In today’s UNSCRIPTED I’ll look closely at the NBA All Star game and what can be done to make it more competitive and bring it back to where it used to be, which was the most exciting display of talent on the planet!
The NBA All-Star break isn't just for the players. It's a good time for us fans to reset, take a look at the remainder of our favorite teams’ schedule, and see if we can save a nickel or two, to attend at least one game during the 2nd half of the season! We (or at least I do) look at the All-Star game as the mythical half-way point in a season that’s ¾ of the way done! Teams have roughly 25 games to go to make enough noise to secure a play-off berth and begin to make a run at the NBA Championship.
But again, let’s look at what can be done to improve the All-Star game to at least make it more viewable for us fans who pay in excess of $500.00 a piece for tickets to see this atrocity! In my very humble opinion, the NBA has to do a better job at selecting the “right” cities to host All Star weekend simply because you have the world’s best players (and their fans) coming to your city and their has to be plenty of opportunities for night-life accessibility which is a part of the weekend as well (let me explain)…
NBA players are expected to play and perform at a high level for us fans for eighty-two regular season games as well as another 20-25 games if their teams are fortunate enough to make it to the play-offs. At some point we have to make it worth their while to give up roughly 10 days during All-Star weekend to come to the NBA selected city for all of the festivities and pomp and circumstance that surround the game itself which includes experiencing the city itself and what it has to offer. NBA Hall of Famers Charles Barkley & Shaquille O’Neal had this to say about Salt Lake City, Utah which hosted this year’s events… "Can't smoke, can't drink; These people are going to heaven," Barkley said on the TNT broadcast of the game. O’Neal added "Ain’t nothing to do in this boring a-- city. I never ate so much room service in my life." These types of comments weigh heavily on those that make decisions on who the “next” host will be when All Star city hosts are being given consideration. Players feel that if they are asked to give up part of their break away from the game then give them options as to what they can do for “fun” during that time! Is it fair that spoiled millionaires want to be coddled in this manner. Of course not, but what’s the trade off? You risk losing that particular player's face that weekend because you’ve chosen Salt Lake City, Sacramento, Cleveland, or Milwaukee!
Folks, that is just the reality of things. And players are going to have to be compensated in HUGE amounts if we want to see them play… PERIOD! Giving 100,000 for each member of the winning team and 50,000 to the losing team just does not give the players enough incentive to play hard and gives us fans more bang for our buck! Keep in mind that a common issue among ALL professional All-Star games is the lack of competitiveness among players. Of course, it’s challenging to fault the players when you consider the stakes involved. Remember that athletes are compensated for their contributions to their teams, not to the league. I understand that participating in an exhibition for fans’ entertainment is an extreme honor and rightfully so, but, sustaining an injury no matter how slight, during the game (LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo) could prematurely end a player’s season. It could also potentially jeopardize valuable incentives laced into their contract, all without affecting the regular season.
Here are my suggestions as to how NBA All Star Weekend can become better:
1) Have an open Slam-Dunk competition in major market cities that have NBA Franchises i.e., Chicago, Los Angeles, Detroit, New York, and pick the top 5 from each city to come to the city selected for the All Star game for a competition.
2) Only use MAJOR MARKET cities as hosts and stay away from those mid-market cities (sorry Cleveland, and Sacramento). Those smaller cities will receive profit sharing subsidies from the total take during All Star weekend.
3) Award 100,000 to the winners of ANY skills competition leading up to the game. Slam Dunk, Rookie game, Legends game etc.... But 1 MILLION to charity of winning team in All Star Game and sliding scale monies to teams who win each quarter of the game. 1st Qt = 100,000 2nd Qt = 200,000, 3 Qt= 300,000 and 4th Qt = 400,00. Players will receive ½ of those totals for each quarter lost.
Now before you say, “Keith you must be out of your mind to suggest these types of pay-days!” Let me share that the NBA MADE 8.6 BILLION in revenue shares last season so now how do you feel about those All-Star suggestions?