People complain the NBA All-Star Game lacks drama. The league just guaranteed that the pre-game would have drama.
The NBA changed its traditional East vs. West All-Star format in 2017. Instead of dividing players by geography, the top vote-getters in each conference draft starters and reserves themselves.
In the past, the draft has happened on TNT, with the “Inside The NBA” observing, judging, and heckling.
And there was occasionally drama, usually based on captains and their old teammates: LeBron James with Kyrie Irving, or Kevin Durant and James Harden last year.
Days after Harden forced a trade from Durant’s Brooklyn Nets, Durant passed on drafting The Beard seven different times, sticking him on Team LeBron.
But while the draft has provided moments of levity — like when Giannis Antetokounmpo accused James of “tampering” — the league apparently wants more face-to-face confrontation.
Based on the fifth round of fan voting, it looks like James and Antetokounmpo will be captains again, although Durant only trails the Greek Freak by a little over 100K votes.
As the leading overall vote-getter, James may have to choose between teammate Anthony Davis, former and prospective teammate Kyrie Irving, or rivals Durant and Steph Curry. If James doesn’t pick AD, he’ll have to look Davis right in the eyes, or the brow, while he does it.
Durant still hopes to come back from his knee injury in time to participate in the All-Star Game.
It’s a sign that the NBA is always willing to experiment with All-Star Weekend, as when they introduced a new “Elam Ending” format in 2020, where teams play to a target score in the final quarter.
This addressed concerns about the competitiveness of the exhibition, which had become known for zero-defense blowouts.
Who does it hurt? The players who get picked last in each round, in front of their fellow All-Stars and an international television audience.
Our advice? Start sucking up to LeBron and Giannis now. Telling James how much you liked “Space Jam: Legacy” or that you’re thinking of opening a Blaze Pizza franchise could be the difference between being picked fourth, or last.
