5 ways to fix NBA All-Star Weekend after widely panned 2025 event

It takes quite a bit to get a near-unanimous opinion on any sports activities matter lately, however the 2025 NBA All-Star Weekend achieved that.

The festivities within the Bay Space have been panned throughout the board, with virtually everybody disliking the tournament-style All-Star Recreation and a number of the occasions on All-Star Saturday. In actual fact, Draymond Green, who was part of TNT’s protection for Sunday’s recreation, known as the format “ridiculous,” including that it was a “zero” out of 10 on the thrill scale.

So yeah, it is time for NBA commissioner Adam Silver to get again within the lab and tinker round with not simply the All-Star Recreation, however the contests main as much as it. Fortunately for him, we have 5 concepts to revamp the entire weekend.

1. Make a minimum of two present All-Stars take part in every contest on All-Star Saturday

This one is generally aimed on the Slam Dunk Contest, because the Abilities Problem and 3-Level Contest recurrently have a number of All-Stars compete in every occasion. In recent times, although, the Slam Dunk Contest has been stuffed with gamers who cannot even crack their respective group’s rotations, with the likes of Mac McClung, Jacob Toppin, Kenyon Martin Jr., Cassius Stanley and Hamidou Diallo having participated.

This yr, Boston Celtics wing Jaylen Brown was the one contestant who additionally performed within the All-Star Recreation on that very same weekend.

[Related: Four questions after the NBA’s latest attempt at reviving All-Star Sunday night]

Suffice to say, there’s simply no star energy within the Slam Dunk Contest, a minimum of to not the extent there was within the Nineteen Eighties-2000s. These days, the league workplace must incentivize All-Stars to wish to participate within the Slam Dunk Contest, however they may get artistic. Possibly they may mandate that to play in an All-Star Recreation, you must have participated in a minimum of one All-Star Saturday occasion sooner or later in your profession.

Fortunately for the NBA, a few All-Stars have floated the opportunity of performing in subsequent yr’s occasion. Ja Morant and Giannis Antetokounmpo both shared on social media that they have been excited by doing the occasion after watching McClung three-peat on Saturday. We’ll see in the event that they follow their phrase or pull a LeBron James.

This repair would additionally permit 3-point and dunk specialists to nonetheless take part within the occasion. McClung’s slams to win Saturday’s Slam Dunk Contest have been definitely thrilling. Stephon Castle additionally had a few memorable dunks within the remaining spherical. Including a pair of All-Stars to go up in opposition to these two may need added much-needed pizzazz. 

2. Do away with the Abilities Problem and convey again the Taking pictures Stars Competitors

Of the All-Star Saturday occasions, none have been fiddled with as a lot because the Abilities Problem. There is a motive for that: It isn’t excellent.

San Antonio Spurs stars Victor Wembanyama and Chris Paul proved that this weekend. The 2 thought they’d discovered a loophole within the competitors, shortly tossing balls to the aspect after they have been imagined to shoot them. They were disqualified as a result, creating one of many highlights of the weekend because of their willingness to not even attempt within the occasion.

The opposite spotlight of this yr’s Abilities Problem was watching Inexperienced stumble his approach by the course within the remaining spherical. Past Inexperienced’s struggles, the course appears comparatively simple for NBA gamers, contemplating all they must do is dribble, go, and make a couple of bounce pictures and a layup.

So, let’s do away with the Abilities Problem and convey again a contest that honors the historical past of the sport and shines a light-weight on the WNBA: the Taking pictures Stars Competitors. When you want a refresher, the occasion featured an NBA All-Star, an NBA icon and a present WNBA participant from the identical metropolis or state teaming as much as go head-to-head with one other trio, all whereas making pictures from across the court docket. The ultimate shot was from half court docket, showcasing extra problem than the Abilities Problem. 

This yr, we may’ve seen Karl-Anthony Towns, Carmelo Anthony and Sabrina Ionescu symbolize New York, or Pascal Siakam and Caitlin Clark companion up with Reggie Miller to symbolize Indiana. The chances for this are countless. 

3. Make the 3-Level Contest an eight-player event, however with a twist

The three-Level Contest has been essentially the most dependable occasion of All-Star Weekend through the years, with a number of All-Stars competing for the crown and offering a handful of thrilling moments. However like all the pieces else throughout All-Star Weekend, it may get higher.

With the intention to present a little bit further drama, the NBA ought to change it to an eight-player event, however with individuals who’re taking pictures on the identical time. They would not be taking pictures on the identical basket, although; somewhat, every would occupy one aspect of the court docket. 

This may take away the goal rating ingredient of the 3-Level Contest, by which gamers usually know what number of factors they want with the intention to advance. As a substitute, they’d be attempting to get as many 3-pointers up as they’ll and would not know in the event that they have been protected or not till the top.

One other 3-Level Contest-related thought for the NBA: Do away with the balls which are price extra factors. The winner should not be decided based mostly off a participant taking pictures worse from their moneyball rack than their opponent. 

4. Have the winner of the 3-Level Contest tackle the winner of the earlier yr’s WNBA 3-Level Contest

On this situation, whoever wins the 3-Level Contest would not cease there. They’d must go for another spherical of 3-point taking pictures, going head-to-head with the winner of the earlier yr’s WNBA 3-Level Contest in a “battle of the sexes” competitors.

This concept was impressed by the memorable Steph Curry vs. Sabrina Ionescu 3-point duel at All-Star Saturday in 2024, when the WNBA star almost took down the NBA’s all-time 3-point king. That occasion was arguably one of the best All-Star-related spotlight of the previous few years.

After this yr’s 3-Level Contest, Tyler Herro would’ve needed to tackle Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray, who received the WNBA 3-Level Contest in 2024. Which may not have the identify recognition that Curry-Ionescu had, nevertheless it nonetheless would’ve added extra enjoyable to the night whereas additionally offering one other likelihood for the WNBA to showcase itself.

5. Change the All-Star Recreation format to USA vs. the World

As you’ve got possible seen, there have not been any strategies but on how we would tweak the precise All-Star Recreation. However there aren’t many natural methods to alter the All-Star Recreation that the NBA hasn’t tried but. It is executed the All-Star draft. It is tried the Elam Ending. This yr, it had a four-team event, with the successful group from the Rising Stars Problem making up 1 / 4 of the gamers within the All-Star Recreation. 

There’s one thought, although, that would encourage gamers to place up a little bit extra effort: having america’ finest basketball gamers tackle the remainder of the world’s finest. In recent times, we have seen america wrestle to carry on to its basketball dominance in worldwide occasions, ending fourth within the 2023 FIBA Event earlier than needing dramatic wins to take residence gold on the 2024 Summer season Olympics.

If hockey’s 4 Nations Faceoff is any indication, this could additionally present some nation satisfaction. The NHL-created occasion noticed the United States and Canada get in three fights within the first 9 seconds of their recreation on Saturday as that event changed the NHL’s All-Star Recreation.

The one concern right here is in case you’d have sufficient worldwide gamers to take part within the occasion with out costing a handful of notable American gamers All-Star spots. There have been 9 foreign-born gamers on this yr’s All-Star Recreation, although one among them was Kyrie Irving, who has performed for america in worldwide tournaments prior to now. 

Luka Doncic possible would’ve been an All-Star if he had appeared in sufficient video games and Domantas Sabonis definitely had a powerful case to be named an All-Star this yr, which might’ve helped the worldwide group. However it nonetheless would’ve wanted to fill out two spots on the roster. Possibly a few American All-Stars may volunteer to play for the worldwide group? 

Although there is a hoop to leap by with this one, it looks as if the one thought left that will carry extra of a aggressive spirit to the All-Star Recreation. 

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