For 72 years, the NBA has selected standout players from each of the league’s conferences, and played a conference vs. conference “all-star game.” In 1976, they added a dunk contest, and in 1986, a three-point contest. These events have formed what is known as NBA All-Star Weekend. Recently, Minor additions such as a rising stars game, a celebrity game, and a skills competition were also added. The best athletes going toe to toe on national television, with the highest flyers and knockdown shooters competing the night before. For years, All-Star Weekend has been loved by all sports fans and has produced some of the most iconic NBA memories to date. So why are fans, coaches, and even players seemingly growing less fond of the tradition?

Across the last 5 years, All-Star Weekend has received lots of criticism. Beginning in 2018 when the NBA voted to remove the Western Conference vs. the Eastern Conference in favor of a draft, selected by two captains. The recess style draft had lots of hype at first, but after LeBron’s 5 year winning streak over Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, and Giannis Antetekoumpo’s teams, it grew a little boring to see every year. Few people really watched the draft or checked the teams, and paired with some terrible uniforms, the change lost popularity fast. Thankfully, Jayson Tatum willed Antetekoumpo’s squad to victory over LeBron last year to end on a high note, that is if you turned off your TV before Giannis responded to a reporter with “winner winner chicken dinner.” The NBA will be going back to East and West in 2024, but the heavy complaints still remain thanks to the target scores, which reached a peak in 2023 at a whopping 184 points. Almost no one is watching through all that, and to make things worse, the NBA made this so the game would last longer than a normal game, but with the non existent defense that is played, the game is ultimately even shorter than a regular game, due to how easy the scoring comes. The lack of defense, and even the lack of care on offense is what ruins the game. Of course it’s cool to see a dunk, then another, but how fun is it to see wide open dunks and watch dudes just huck up threes whenever they feel like it? It might sound fun to watch, but you’ll probably find yourself on your phone before you know it. Everyone wants to see the highest level basketball game possible, the best athletes in the world battling each other. Instead we get a three point chucking contest, a lot of missed dunks, and only a few cool dunks. We need a change, and here’s how I believe it should go.

First off, the all star voting should be chosen by league officials completely based on their stats, value, and team impact. Then, fans can vote on the starting lineups. Fan voting has gotten out of hand, and more and more deserving players are being snubbed from rosters. This solution would solely leave it up to their performance, and the most popular and exciting players could start through a fan voting system. Then on Friday, a competitive Rising Stars Game and Starry Three Point Contest should kick off the weekend, with young talent flying around and a ridiculous display of shooting to follow. I do believe it would be more beneficial for the league to have the three point contest and dunk contest on different days, as it would pull in many more viewers, and leave fans with a day of anticipation for the dunk contest. On Saturday, the skills challenge would lead off the day, followed by the dunk contest at around 5 PM. Then, the NBA’s first ever 1 on 1 competition would cap off the night. A fantastical idea that has been discussed by fans for a while, a 1 on 1 competition would drive players to compete at the highest level possible, and with the half court, the players could go 100% without having to run up and down the court. Players should also be divided into 3 height groups, play 5 minute king of the hill games, and a final round being an unrestricted king of the hill game, between the winners of the 3 groups. On Sunday, the All-Star Celebrity Game would precede the NBA All-Star Game, with a little something on the line. The winning conference would receive a patch on all of their jerseys, along with a different charity earnings system. The winning team would get a certain amount of money donated to their charity of choice, instead of two league chosen charities. This would hopefully put some motivation behind the players to play some defense, and make the game more normal. Awards would be awarded, with the MVP being awarded twice as much money to their charity. 

Hopefully with these changes, and mainly the introduction of the 1 v 1 competition, would flip the narrative of NBA All Star Weekend. The main goal is to get to see real basketball. Good defense, good offense, no free buckets, and no dumb shots(unless it’s from Curry or Dame). What makes basketball so beautiful, is what the all star game lacks: competition. Dunks are cool, but I’d rather see a strong two-hander to take the lead in a close game than see an uncontested windmill in a 35 point blowout. Lastly, get Damian Lillard and Miles Bridges in a rap battle somewhere. I don’t have a plan for that, but it has to happen somehow.