A week ago, Shams Charania reported that the NBA is adopting a new format for the NBA All-Star game. The reactions to this new format were mixed. Recently, Stephen A. Smith gave his honest opinion on the new All-Star game format. He is among the first to publicly say that players should give more effort, at least to the level of a summer pickup game.
Stephen A. Smith Trashes New All-Star Format
After hearing criticism regarding the lack of interest in the All-Star game, the league decided to switch things and try a new format. Those of us who are older than 40 years remember that there was a time when All-Star games were played like playoff games. That competitiveness is long gone.
Nowadays, fans are hoping that the All-Star game will be played at a competitive level instead of the lackadaisical game we had last year when it was an open layup lane and three-point shooting. ESPN Analyst Stephen A. Smith completely trashed the new format, saying players should feel ashamed of what they have done to the game. A day ago, Smith said,
“I think it’s an insult, and it’s a disgrace to the Pioneers who have helped elevate the NBA product to what it is. I think it’s a blemish on NBA players I personally have no interest in being there, and I never speak against the NBA this way. This is the ultimate indictment against the NBA players they play harder practicing in the summer league. Now, what possible excuse could you have for playing harder practicing amongst yourself in the summer league than you are in an exhibition game. It is the ultimate indictment against players who are paid generational money, and you can’t show up for an All-Star game to show a modicum of effort, it’s a disgrace, it really is.”
Is It All About Money?
A day after his initial trashing of the All-Star format, Stephen A. Smith went on television again to say that despite the backlash he got from agents and players, he is not backing up from his initial thoughts. The fact that the league has to go through so much to get the players to show some effort is alarming, and Stephen A. Smith reacted to it.
“NBA players, particularly the agents, were articulating this message that the NBA players or the NBA office rather was catering to their corporate sponsors at the expense of the players that you know contractually have to show up. And players are saying that they do not want to play their butts off like a regular season game or a high competitive style matchup because they feel the league has catered to the corporate partners and appeasing them without giving players a piece of that pie.”
There have been talks about incentivizing players to participate in the game and show real effort. At the end of the day, these players make millions of dollars, and now it seems like they want a piece of the All-Star money. Yet, it still doesn’t matter for analysts like Stephen A. Smith. He said,
“I don’t give a damn I don’t want to hear that, first of all, when you consider the money that you’re getting paid salary-wise when you consider the games missed during the regular season due to load management or anything else, but the check still comes in guaranteed. I don’t want to hear that, but this is the biggest reason I feel this way. There is nothing wrong with somebody asking you to play as hard as you play when you work out in the summer that is the point I didn’t say the regular season, the playoffs, I didn’t say anything like that.”
The New All-Star Format
According to the full report by Shams, the new format will have four teams of three All-Star squads of eight players each and the winner of the Rising Stars game. The format will ensure a mix of seasoned stars and young talent.
The matchup will have a straightforward structure: Team 1 vs. Team 3 and Team 2 vs. Team 4. The winners of each matchup will play in the final round. The addition of young players has the potential to make the game more competitive. Older players always want to show up against younger and potential stars. We will have to wait and see.
What are the Players Saying?
According to the report, Stephen Curry, whose team is the host of this year’s All-Star festivities, has collaborated with the league and other All-Stars to ensure that the format delivers on the promise of excitement. A quicker game can increase effort and make it more competitive. Yet, nothing will matter unless stars like Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Steph, and others decide they want to compete.
