2024 NBA All-Star Game was an Airball

Fans must decide if the increased loss of competitiveness in the All-Star Game is worth the social value of the event. Photo by acidpix via Creative Commons

From college students to ex-National Basketball Association players, the resounding response to this year's All-Star Game has been disappointment at the lack of competitiveness. Even though several records were broken, the game failed to keep viewers' attention and begs the question of the game's purpose.  

This year's NBA All-Star game took place on Feb. 18 at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indiana, resulting in the highest-scoring game on record with a final tally of 211-186. While the unbelievable total is very exciting, the game itself lacked competitiveness and defense from both teams, as evidenced by the record-breaking score.   

“When I realized nobody was trying, I just got really bored,” said Daniel DeMaso ‘27. It wasn’t always this boring for viewers. The game used to be more competitive, and therefore more appealing. The NBA has become more talent-based, which may result in less enticing games, but might not mean the end of true competition.  

“The more that you put into it, the more disciplined you are, the more talented you can be,” said Samantha Chadwick ‘24. “I think it just helps evolve and create the environment to be even stronger and even more competitive.” 

But when the All-Star Game, which is supposed to be the most elite game of the whole season, lacks a competitive fire and turns into an offense-driven scoring free-for-all, fans begin to wonder if there is still a point to playing it at all.   

Student opinion about still playing the game is firm — it’s an immovable tradition and should still be played.

“You gather arguably the best players in the league and just throw them into one game with one another,” said DeMaso. “In that sense, you're going to see some of your favorite players go head-to-head against each other and have a game that features the best of the best.”

Even though it is a tradition, he also reiterates that there is very little strategy, intensity and effort from the players, which results in a “very boring” game. Instead, the players are there to have fun and showcase their talents.  

Former players are also speaking out on the need to reignite a competitive fire in the All-Star Game. Larry Bird called on NBA stars to 'play hard' in this year's All-Star Game: “You've gotta compete,” he said, per CBS.  

This call to action from such a well-regarded veteran in the industry is a serious indication of the lack of true effort being put in by the players. But one place where there is guaranteed effort by players is college basketball.   

Chadwick likes watching college basketball, as opposed to the NBA. “I feel like it's more thoroughly competitive. Every minute of every game is a brawl. And they're in it for what's next,” she said. 

While it is evident in comparison to the National Collegiate Athletics Association that NBA players' efforts could be raised, the understanding of the All-Star Game is that the players are there because of their talent, and an increased playing level could bring more risk of injury for these million-dollar athletes.   

However, the NBA is still a business run by its consumers. Fans want competition and close games that come down to the last seconds. So, the question then becomes: what could improve the All-Star Game and bring these aspects back to it?  

Possible chances of making the game better lie in reinstating the target score rule and raising incentives for winning the game. From a current player's perspective, Anthony Edwards sees no need, and no way to change the game. “For me, it's an All-Star Game, so I don't think I will ever look at it like being super competitive," Edwards said, according to The Athletic. "It's always fun. I don't know what they can do to make it more competitive,” he said, via Marca.  

A break from competitiveness is necessary sometimes, especially to rediscover the simple joy there is in playing basketball and what the real purpose of the game is. Chadwick believes that the turn towards a more lighthearted, social All-Star game isn’t something to be worried about, but instead, something needed to reinspire players and fans alike.   

“It is mainly for a social purpose, but it does also help the players remind themselves of why they do what they do, and it's a good time to kind of just relax, and it doesn't matter for the record or anything,” she said. “It's just to have fun.”