This year’s NBA All-Star Game looked different. The league introduced a mini-tournament format, hoping to bring excitement back. But did it go the intended way? A huge no, instead it sparked heavy criticism from the fans. Player, analysts like Draymond Green and Stephen A. Smith also joined in the criticism. The target naturally fell on the NBA commissioner Adam Silver.
It would have been fine if the negative feedback stopped there, but it didn’t. Fans flooded social media with complaints, criticizing the lack of competitiveness. Some even claimed the event felt more like an exhibition than a high-stakes game. Despite the league’s intentions, the All-Star changes didn’t deliver the spark they had hoped for.
On Gil’s Arena podcast, former NBA star DeMarcus “Boogie” Cousins shed light on another overlooked issue—the lack of effort. He recalled his All-Star experience, saying, “In my head, I’m like, man, I’m going to go hard, try to get me a f**** MVP! Till I realized it’s a sheet with everybody’s time on it… ‘Demarcus, you going to play about 11 minutes in this All-Star game.’” That was like a cold water being poured over his plans. It slowly changed his approach to the event.
Moreover, Kenyon Martin backed him up, explaining that players lose motivation when they know they won’t get enough playing time. Cousins also expected younger players to bring energy, but as he put it, “Them young punks didn’t do nothing!” Even Gilbert Arenas pointed out how Victor Wembanyama was the exception, giving his all, but without full-team effort, his impact was limited.
Feb 20, 2022; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; NBA commissioner Adam Silver presents Team LeBron guard Stephen Curry (30) with a trophy for most valuable player after Team LeBron defeated Team Durant in the 2022 NBA All-Star Game at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Gilbert Arenas then shifted the blame to the referees, saying they refused to call fouls. “You’re not even reffing it like it’s a real game for me to be playing it like it’s a real game.” Without proper officiating, players avoided physicality, further diminishing competitiveness.
These issues paint a clearer picture—players lacked motivation, the format felt forced, and officiating was inconsistent. Ironically, this validates Commissioner Adam Silver’s past concerns about the All-Star Game’s effort level. His push for change may not have worked perfectly, but the criticism confirms why the game needed fixing in the first place.
Draymond Green Calls Out the Adam Silver’s New All-Star Format
During the NBA All-Star Game broadcast, Draymond Green made it clear—he’s not a fan of the league’s latest experiment. The Golden State Warriors veteran didn’t mince words when criticizing the newly introduced mini-tournament structure. He was very passionate about his disagreement with the new format.
Green voiced his concerns on the TNT broadcast, questioning the fairness of the new format. “I had to work so hard to play on Sunday night of All-Star weekend,” he stated. He argued that the Rising Stars inclusion wasn’t a real fix. He pointed out that he never played in that game early in his career. All because- the “ratings are down” and “the game’s bad”.
Under this revamped system, four teams battle in a semifinal, with the first to reach 40 points advancing. Green took issue with the format, saying it disrespects the hard work of those selected through traditional All-Star voting. “You work all year to be an All-Star, and you get to play up to 40, and then you’re done,” he said, calling it unfair to dedicated players like Victor Wembanyama and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Beyond fairness, Green also felt the format stripped the game of its historical significance. He referenced legendary players like Kobe Bryant and Carmelo Anthony, who once used the All-Star Game as a stage for scoring battles. Comparing the matchups to an Olympic team facing a U-19 squad, he bluntly concluded, “This sucks, it ain’t basketball.”
The new format has faced heavy criticism since its announcement. Meanwhile, in this season’s game, Team Shaq OGs secured a commanding 41-25 victory over Team Chuck Global Stars, but the debate about the All-Star Game’s future continues.
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