This Isn’t Basketball: Draymond Green Slams NBA All-Star Event Changes

The NBA has made persistent efforts to revitalise its struggling All-Star weekend.

Each passing year, fresh elements have been introduced in a bid to elicit a competitive spirit from the star-studded lineup, who often prefer to watch the ball rather than defend and tend to favour long-range three-point shots.

This year’s All-Star Game format unveiled an innovative three-game mini tournament, featuring four teams, where the first team to reach 40 points would be crowned the winner.

The teams were assembled by the analysts of TNT’s Inside the NBA: Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Candace Parker.

Stephen Curry energised Team Shaq, a squad steeped in experience, which included Kevin Durant and Jayson Tatum.

Barkley’s Global Stars showcased international talents such as Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama, while Parker’s selection comprised mainly first and second-year players.

Curry delivered an outstanding performance in front of his home fans, leading Shaq’s OGs to victory over Barkley’s side with a score of 42-25.

Curry remarked that the changes made to the All-Star Game format represented “a step in the right direction.”

“I believe it was a positive move to breathe new life into the game,” he stated.

“We can fine-tune it again next year to see what further changes can be made. I hesitate to draw comparisons with any previous era, as the world has evolved, and the way fans engage with basketball has transformed.

“It won’t mirror the past, but it can still be enjoyable for everyone— I had a great time, and our team certainly did too.”

Concerning the lengthy breaks that occurred during the games, which received some criticism from players, Dallas Mavericks star Kyrie Irving applauded the NBA’s efforts to inject flair into the event.

Irving acknowledged the significance of advertising revenue but added that the league did “the best they could” while striving to maintain competitive integrity.