Did anyone watch the NBA All-Star Weeknd festivities? If you expected the NBA All-Star Game to deliver anything more than a spectacle of wasted time, it’s no surprise you walked away frustrated. Let’s face it: the event has long since lost its luster. The players seem uninterested, the fans have little enthusiasm, and those of us lucky enough to be paid to follow basketball are equally uninterested in covering it.
Sadly, Sunday’s All-Star Game dragged on for nearly three hours, yet only about 30 minutes featured actual basketball. Although occasionally punctuated by brief moments of low-effort “excitement,” the on-court action was predictably lackluster. And what made the night even worse? All the other segments surrounding the game were so cringeworthy that we found ourselves wishing for more basketball.
Here comes Kevin Hart. The comedian’s over-the-top attempt at humor was far from funny, and it’s baffling how he continues to be associated with these events. It’s curious, too, that someone so focused on trying too hard was chosen to serve as the “on-court emcee” for an event where the athletes can’t even muster the effort to play properly. The contrast couldn’t have been more glaring.
When it comes to the audience, it begs the question: who is the NBA All-Star Game even for at this point? Sure, sponsors and TV deals are big business, but at some point, a bad product is just that—a bad product. Thank goodness for Mac McClung’s incredible performance in the Dunk Contest, which provided the only real entertainment of the weekend. Usually, the 3-Point Contest offers some excitement, but this year, even that fell flat. Stephen Curry, the reigning MVP, didn’t even participate despite the event being held on his home court.
The All-Star Game’s highlight of the night came from Curry hitting a casual half-court shot. But the most memorable moment? Jaren, a player most hadn’t heard of, sank a logo 3-pointer for $100,000. That’s the lasting memory of this year’s All-Star weekend: Jaren’s shot and Kevin Hart’s attempts at humor.
It was also special in its heyday because it gave fans the rare chance to watch players they might otherwise only see on national TV. But now, we’re just watching the same players—like Jayson Tatum and Donovan Mitchell—take endless 3-point shots. There’s nothing unique about it anymore, and for those who follow the league closely, it’s all too familiar.
One thing is clear: What started as a celebration of basketball is now a bloated, over-commercialized event that needs a serious reset. The players deserve a break. And for all our sakes, can we please retire Kevin Hart from being the emcee?