The NBA All-Star Game stinks. i know it. You know. Everyone knows it, and their mothers know it.
The game was very boring and the players made little effort, but the highlight of the weekend was the girls hitting threes and Charles Barkley defeating San Francisco.
The final score of 211-186 broke the all-time scoring record for a game, not because they were much better than usual, but because they weren't overtly trying to defend.
The game drew 5.5 million viewers, second only to 2023, which had the lowest viewership of all time, and was almost the lowest ever.
The average number of viewers for the 2024 NBA All-Star Game was 5.5 million, the second-lowest number on record after 2023.
Across TNT, TBS, truTV and Max, the number of games increased by 20% from last season.https://t.co/IliEcP9pk6 pic.twitter.com/CkdYRWSyom
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) February 20, 2024
Some argue that players should be given more money and incentives, as was the case during the recent first playoff tournament (players on the winning team received $500,000 each), but I I don't think it makes much of a difference here. The game's main drivers like LeBron James and Stephen Curry earn more than $50 million a year. That $500,000 doesn't really change anything.
So should we scrap the game entirely? What to do, what to do… Well, one Twitter sportswriter has a great idea. It's a 1v1 tournament. (Related article: 'Saved my career': Bucks' Pat Beverley slams former sharpshooter JJ Reddick for criticizing Doc Rivers)
Sportswriter and YouTuber Frank Michael Smith has put together a one-night-only 32-person winner-take-all event. This is truly shocking content.
“We'll put the NBA's top 32 scorers in brackets and determine seeding based on points per game,” he tweeted Tuesday afternoon.
Top 32 scorers in the NBA in brackets to determine seeding based on points per game
This is all for one night, the rules are “Make It Take It” and a maximum of 3 dribbles
It moves fast. There will be 3 players for the first two rounds, 5 players for the next two rounds, and 11 players for the final. pic.twitter.com/PCedJSsu3N
— Frank Michael Smith (@frankmikesmith) February 20, 2024
Smith also added the sweet wrinkle that the previous year's winner could crown the following year's winner, much like the Masters does with the green jacket.
The previous year's champion crowns the new champion in a manner similar to the green jacket presentation at the Masters.
Instead of a green jacket, the winner will receive a championship belt with the words “1V1 World Champion” written on it. pic.twitter.com/FpIC4r7u5U
— Frank Michael Smith (@frankmikesmith) February 20, 2024
This proposal plays more to NBA stars' recorded vanity than to appeal to their wallets.
“You can't say they're not interested in being crowned 'one-on-one world champions,'” Smith aptly points out.
I know LeBron is probably going to retire soon. guarantee If he ever had the chance to perform a solo like this, he would throw his hat into the ring.
I'm all for this format, so it's not funny. Imagine Stephen Curry going one-on-one with Kevin Durant. Or how about Wenby vs. Embiid? Just thinking about the possible matchups is tantalizing.
