NBA community brutally criticized 2024 All-Star Game for lack of competitiveness: “Beyond Terrible”

The 2024 NBA All-Star weekend saw lots of drama. Apart from the usual contests, there was a special 3-point challenge between two of the best sharpshooters, Stephen Curry and Sabrina Ionescu. Although it received a lot of praise from the NBA community, the main focus like every year was the NBA All-Star game.

This is the only chance fans get to watch their favorite stars play in the same team and bring their fantasies to life, thanks to the majority votes from them. However, this year, the All-Star game seemingly did not meet their expectations.

NBA fans criticized 2024 All-Star Game for being too uncompetitive

The two teams, each from the Western and Eastern Conference, were led by the NBA greats LeBron James, who made his 20th appearance and Giannis Antetokounmpo at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. By the end of halftime, the East was leading by 104-89 which turned to 211-186 by the end of the game. The Eastern Conference team broke the previous record of 196 points and set a new high score.

The two teams together have scored 397 points, the most since 2017 which led the NBA community to question the lack of seriousness in the teams. Fans have shown their disappointment on X (formerly known as Twitter) and bashed the star-studded game.

Criticizing the competitiveness of the game a user wrote, “It’s become like a Harlem Globetrotters game where players can showcase their talent and have some fun. It’s no longer a real competition.” Some also agreed that there was no zeal to win the game, rather the players were simply enjoying it.

Another believed that there was insufficient defense from both teams. The fan clarified that they want an actual game where both the teams give their best. He wrote, “All star game is truly awful to watch. Constant dunks with no defense. Half court threes. Could not be more boring. Fans want an actual game with players giving their best on offense and defense.”

Some were so disappointed that they could not watch after a certain point, “I couldn’t watch it anymore it was so boring I turned it.”

A fan wrote that it was unfair to the community who look forward to this game and buy tickets for it, “Pathetic! Shame on the NBA for not giving the fans a good basketball game especially the working people that bought tickets for that crap.”

A fan wrote that if the players are not bothered to give effort in the All-Star game then NBA should take the initiative to end it, “That was dreadful. Again. I am beginning to think this game is irredeemable. I am not sure why even minimal defense effort is beyond this generation of All-Stars. But it may be time to end this game if they can’t give more of a damn than that.”

There were several other tweets that bash the players and the association for the game being non-competitive. But it is not only the fans who have criticized it. In fact, Bulls legend Scottie Pippen raised questions regarding the All-Star game too.

NBA left in search of fixes for the uncompetitive All-Star Game

It was made clear by the NBA that the All-Star game was a matter of great importance but like last year, the 73rd edition was dull. Criticism for the lack of competitiveness in the game came from the 6-time NBA Champion Scottie Pippen too.

The 58-year-old said, “Maybe there is a time and place for it. Maybe the players are making too much money, they don’t feel that they can generate the energy, the excitement in mid-season to go out and excite the fans any more.”

NBA commissioner Adam Silver did not look very satisfied with the performance as well. With the NBA community bashing, it is time for the association to look for a solution to fix things. Players have admitted that the All-Star weekend feels more like a break for them, and they enjoy these games, but none of them wants to risk injuries. However, they’ve also confirmed ongoing discussions to make the game more competitive.

It will be fascinating to see what changes Silver and Joe Dumars, NBA’s executive vice president and head of basketball operations, can come up with to make the star-studded game more competitive and at the same time enjoyable for the players.