The NBA’s latest attempt to revamp All-Star Weekend isn’t exactly winning over the players.
Sunday’s championship game at Chase Center turned into a stop-and-start affair that left many stars frustrated. Team Shaq, featuring Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and Jayson Tatum, came out on top against Team Chuck’s squad of Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama.
But it wasn’t the basketball that had people talking.
Trae Young didn’t hold back: "To be honest, I didn’t like it at all. The games were so short… they’re trying to extend the TV time with the breaks and things like that."
The biggest interruptions came from comedian Kevin Hart, whose constant commentary had players visibly annoyed. At one point, SGA could be seen gesturing for Hart to quiet down so they could get back to playing.
"I had fun, nonetheless," Gilgeous-Alexander said after the game. "It was a little bit more competitive tonight, which is a good feeling, a step in the right direction."
Jaylen Brown took a shot at the format while defending his team’s victory: "All the OGs, team old knees and old backs, we came out on top, so I don’t think anyone else should have had any excuses."
Curry, who walked away with MVP honors after dropping 12 points in the final, revealed he’d been part of discussions to change things up.
"I did have some input and a lot of conversations with Adam [Silver]," the Warriors star said. "We needed some new life, new juice in the game, something kind of unexpected."
Not everyone was thrilled with the changes. Draymond Green questioned why Rising Stars players were included, while Durant admitted the new format "took some getting used to."
The league’s been struggling to keep All-Star Weekend relevant, with ratings dropping in recent years. But the message from players seems clear: fans just want to watch good, competitive basketball.
