Insanity and nostalgia headline 2020 NBA All-star weekend
Celebrities, along with former and current players, are the undeniable draw to attract fanatics to 2020 NBA All-star weekend. But that’s just surface level, below this irrational need to prioritize entertainment over our well being lies a deep longing for the past.
Every year, fanatics of the NBA subconsciously get their hopes in dreaming of something new happening. For the ’90s and early 2000s, the NBA all-star weekend showcased new dunks. Some 15 years later, you have to wonder how many ways are there to dunk a basketball.
While NBA athletes shock audiences with their athletic coordination and flexibility, the dunk contest has reached its limit. In terms of physical capability for dunking the ball, there only so many options before dunks are just slight variations of another dunk.
For 2020 NBA All-Star weekend, fans are injecting entertainment hoping for the high of the past all-star weekends. The feeling of Jordan dunking from the free-throw line or Vince Carter was hanging off the rim. Those days are over that adrenaline rush of serotonin will never come again.
NBA commissioner David Stern understood this well. As a result, he started the celebrity all-star game in 2003. Stern was commissioner when entertainers and athletes began to embrace and attend games more.
 The NBA landed significant t.v. Deals in 1990 for roughly $875 million. Players appeared in more commercials as well, and as a result, NBA athletes became celebrities overnight.Â
This year NBA 2020 All-Star weekend celebrity game only features one former NBA player on each team. The rest are celebrities. Some of them are native to Chicago, where the event is taking place. Some years the celeb game has two or none former NBA players.
The NBA understands that fanatics only care about the dunk contest, the 3pt shootout, and the all-star game. These events occur on Saturday and Sunday, respectively, leaving Friday all filler in terms of entertainment.
So the answer is to give the fans more celebrities to worship. The stars are never the NBA talent level. So logically, where is the fun in watching them play if there aren’t much better than the average person? If you ever want to further an irrational agenda or ideology, always insert a willing celebrity who thrives off the attention generally anyway.
The timing of implementing the celebrity game couldn’t have been more perfect. After a couple of bad showings of the dunk contest in the 1990s, how would the NBA keep the fan’s attention? Especially with Michael Jordan on the brink of retirement, the NBA had to cater to its primary demographic, teenagers, and young adults.Â
According to sports illustrated, the top 5 worst dunk contest was in 96,97, 2005,2004,2010. The first celebrity game was in 2003, showcasing the visionary thinking that NBA commissioner displayed throughout his 30 years. But what about Sunday’s All-star game?
As the talent became imbalanced in the western conference, the all-star games became less competitive. As a result, for the first time last year, Captains were able to pick their teams from either conference. Honestly, This is a great idea and makes the game more interesting. However, how long before this becomes less competitive and interesting?
My prediction is that the NBA, with its global popularity, will start leagues overseas just like the NBA. In the future, the all-star game will be the top NBA players from America vs. the top NBA players from their oversea league. Furthermore, this will tighten the gap for players to make the all-star team as 20 players will be too much. As stated in our last article, this gives the illusion of elitism.
In conclusion, the 2020 NBA All-star weekend is a gumbo of celebrity worship and subconscious nostalgia. A nostalgia that borders on the verge of insanity and lacks an understanding of the laws of gravity and human athletic ability.
Take away the less than YMCA talent of the celebrity game. Add common sense by eliminating an overhyped dunk contest. Then you will realize that one day is all it takes for the 3pt shootout and the All-star game.Â
But then it wouldn’t be an All-Star weekend, would it?…… Exactly.