How to Fix the All Star Game

[VeggieBurger]

There is really only one solution to this that would even fly.

The most obvious: incentivize the hell out of the winner- 2 million to each player on the winning team. These athletes need something that’s going to motivate them to play well. Make the game a big deal and you’ll get the media hype and money to back it. But to make it a big deal, it has to be about money. You don’t think a player would try hard for 2 million? Even if he’s loaded, 2 million is still a nice chunk of money and represents about 1/10 to 1/20 the salary for most of the players. The losers get nothing. As well, the winning team each gets another 1 million to go to the charity of their choice. As well, the fans that voted get entered into a drawing to win 1 million. That will up the vested interest factor amongst the fans as well. Right now no one cares enough. You gotta make everyone care, from the players, to the fans, to the advertisers.

The only other possibility is ditching the game format to do round robin one on ones until one is left standing. Basketball is the only sport that can really get away with that.

Rebrand the entire weekend as the Multimillion Dollar All Star Weekend. Dunk contest winner, million. 3 point shootout winner, million. Everything needs to be big to attract the right athletes to justify the requisite risk. Since NBA wants to get involved with sports betting, make this a big deal with a sports betting app to get a big draw.

Right now it really is just an insult to these guys’ time and pocketbooks. They would be better off resting- unless the event and incentive is BIG.

[Wolfgang630]

It’s an insult to their 30+ million per year contract pocketbooks??

[VeggieBurger]

It’s an insult to their 30+ million per year contract pocketbooks??

Absolutely. You can’t think like a normal salaried person. You have to look at it from their standpoint, with their time and injury risk at play. If they are making 30 million, why would they want to risk injury in an event they’re getting comparitively pennies? There isn’t enough of an incentive right now for them - whether that seems logical or otherwise.

[VeggieBurger]

Keep in mind the difference between games like this and the rest of the games is emotional vesting. There is absolutely zero emotion or passion because the athletes are not vested. But imagine how the tide changes when players start holding each other accountable because they don’t want to mess with their money - for them or a charity. Things change. It’s the same when you play for money at a gym, or when you gamble on a sports team, you become much more vested than if you just played for nothing.

[JustBuzzin]

Instead of a game, just interview players at the parties.

[hyper316]

Ever since banana boat, players care more about joining together than competing against each other. Allstar game is used to recruit other players, no one want to disrespect each other. Like Kobe said, it's more competitive at LA fitness pickup games

[BobbyPortisEyes]

Why not just move the All-Star Game to Friday night and have the Mid-Season Tournament Final be the main event on Sunday? Rookie/Sophomore game can be on Saturday afternoon before the Saturday night events.

[VeggieBurger]

Ever since banana boat, players care more about joining together than competing against each other. Allstar game is used to recruit other players, no one want to disrespect each other. Like Kobe said, it's more competitive at LA fitness pickup games

It’s more than that though. You’re right, but the problem is why would a player want to risk injury in a game they are barely getting anything out of? It’s a big difference getting 50k/100k or whatever they are giving now vs 2 million and a million for charity. Players mentally have to feel like they are playing for a reason. That amount is enough to justify the risk.

[Harry Garris]

Ever since banana boat, players care more about joining together than competing against each other. Allstar game is used to recruit other players, no one want to disrespect each other. Like Kobe said, it's more competitive at LA fitness pickup games

It’s more than that though. You’re right, but the problem is why would a player want to risk injury in a game they are barely getting anything out of? It’s a big difference getting 50k/100k or whatever they are giving now vs 2 million and a million for charity. Players mentally have to feel like they are playing for a reason. That amount is enough to justify the risk.

I don’t think that would make a difference. It’s not a player problem, the lack of competitiveness is uniquely a problem with star players. The young guys in the rising stars game are much more competitive despite not having any monetary incentive and no one caring about their game.

[GeorgeSears]

The players are paid too much money to care about the all-star game. The all-star game has no in-season ramifications the way it does for the MLB.

There's only one option:

An MLB model where winning conference gets home court advantage in the Finals.

If Silver isn't willing to make drastic measures, then just get rid of the event completely. It's a garbage event from start to finish.

[djsunyc]

make it a 1 on 1 tournament and you'll see the competetive juices start to flow.

but i don't think their ego's can handle the chance they look bad.

[Harry Garris]

The NFL already showed us how to fix this. Abandon the all star game, it’s never going to work. Turn the weekend into a bunch of fun minigames where east vs west compete for points. The conference who wins the most things overall throughout the weekend wins the weekend.

[VeggieBurger]

Ever since banana boat, players care more about joining together than competing against each other. Allstar game is used to recruit other players, no one want to disrespect each other. Like Kobe said, it's more competitive at LA fitness pickup games

It’s more than that though. You’re right, but the problem is why would a player want to risk injury in a game they are barely getting anything out of? It’s a big difference getting 50k/100k or whatever they are giving now vs 2 million and a million for charity. Players mentally have to feel like they are playing for a reason. That amount is enough to justify the risk.

I don’t think that would make a difference. It’s not a player problem, the lack of competitiveness is uniquely a problem with star players. The young guys in the rising stars game are much more competitive despite not having any monetary incentive and no one caring about their game.

That’s the problem though. You can’t compare 1st and 2nd year players to 8-10 time all star selections. There is a big fiscal gap between the 2 that, no matter how you slice it, absolutely does impact decisions. You are not going to go hard when you have 40-50 million (which amounts to about 500k-600k per game). But wait! You said I can get 4 times what I make in one day? It makes a difference man. Money drives everything. People would go nuts. Betting on the all star game would be very real. People’s interest would be very real. Coaches would strategize because they want their 2 million too. I’m telling you, money talks. I mean let’s be arbitrary about it. Forget 2 million, offer 100 million. You don’t think they’d try? I’m trying to be realistic with what NBA should be able to shell out with the right deals in place.

[azcatz11]

There is really only one solution to this that would even fly.

The most obvious: incentivize the hell out of the winner- 2 million to each player on the winning team. These athletes need something that’s going to motivate them to play well. Make the game a big deal and you’ll get the media hype and money to back it. But to make it a big deal, it has to be about money. You don’t think a player would try hard for 2 million? Even if he’s loaded, 2 million is still a nice chunk of money and represents about 1/10 to 1/20 the salary for most of the players. The losers get nothing. As well, the winning team each gets another 1 million to go to the charity of their choice. As well, the fans that voted get entered into a drawing to win 1 million. That will up the vested interest factor amongst the fans as well. Right now no one cares enough. You gotta make everyone care, from the players, to the fans, to the advertisers.

The only other possibility is ditching the game format to do round robin one on ones until one is left standing. Basketball is the only sport that can really get away with that.

Rebrand the entire weekend as the Multimillion Dollar All Star Weekend. Dunk contest winner, million. 3 point shootout winner, million. Everything needs to be big to attract the right athletes to justify the requisite risk. Since NBA wants to get involved with sports betting, make this a big deal with a sports betting app to get a big draw.

Right now it really is just an insult to these guys’ time and pocketbooks. They would be better off resting- unless the event and incentive is BIG.

I like your idea but isn't it a better idea to donate that money to a charity or something? I hate to be a socialist but I think that $30M or whatever would be better used to feed kids in Africa or something....

[VeggieBurger]

There is really only one solution to this that would even fly.

The most obvious: incentivize the hell out of the winner- 2 million to each player on the winning team. These athletes need something that’s going to motivate them to play well. Make the game a big deal and you’ll get the media hype and money to back it. But to make it a big deal, it has to be about money. You don’t think a player would try hard for 2 million? Even if he’s loaded, 2 million is still a nice chunk of money and represents about 1/10 to 1/20 the salary for most of the players. The losers get nothing. As well, the winning team each gets another 1 million to go to the charity of their choice. As well, the fans that voted get entered into a drawing to win 1 million. That will up the vested interest factor amongst the fans as well. Right now no one cares enough. You gotta make everyone care, from the players, to the fans, to the advertisers.

The only other possibility is ditching the game format to do round robin one on ones until one is left standing. Basketball is the only sport that can really get away with that.

Rebrand the entire weekend as the Multimillion Dollar All Star Weekend. Dunk contest winner, million. 3 point shootout winner, million. Everything needs to be big to attract the right athletes to justify the requisite risk. Since NBA wants to get involved with sports betting, make this a big deal with a sports betting app to get a big draw.

Right now it really is just an insult to these guys’ time and pocketbooks. They would be better off resting- unless the event and incentive is BIG.

I like your idea but isn't it a better idea to donate that money to a charity or something? I hate to be a socialist but I think that $30M or whatever would be better used to feed kids in Africa or something....

That’s ideal, but I’m being realistic with the mindset of these players. These players today are entitled. These are not philanthropists at heart, but can be with the right tax incentive. You have to attack from all sides. That means the player has to get something, the player has to play for something meaningful, the fans can potentially get something, and the nba of course gets the attention it’s been wanting especially from the betting that would go bonkers. This would cover every angle. You think a teammate would let Lillard shoot 40 ft 3 pointers with 2 million personal and a million in charity at stake? You’d see arguments. You’d see emotion. Most importantly, you’d see a competitiveness we have yet to see. Even more than the old school days.

[Harry Garris]

There is really only one solution to this that would even fly.

The most obvious: incentivize the hell out of the winner- 2 million to each player on the winning team. These athletes need something that’s going to motivate them to play well. Make the game a big deal and you’ll get the media hype and money to back it. But to make it a big deal, it has to be about money. You don’t think a player would try hard for 2 million? Even if he’s loaded, 2 million is still a nice chunk of money and represents about 1/10 to 1/20 the salary for most of the players. The losers get nothing. As well, the winning team each gets another 1 million to go to the charity of their choice. As well, the fans that voted get entered into a drawing to win 1 million. That will up the vested interest factor amongst the fans as well. Right now no one cares enough. You gotta make everyone care, from the players, to the fans, to the advertisers.

The only other possibility is ditching the game format to do round robin one on ones until one is left standing. Basketball is the only sport that can really get away with that.

Rebrand the entire weekend as the Multimillion Dollar All Star Weekend. Dunk contest winner, million. 3 point shootout winner, million. Everything needs to be big to attract the right athletes to justify the requisite risk. Since NBA wants to get involved with sports betting, make this a big deal with a sports betting app to get a big draw.

Right now it really is just an insult to these guys’ time and pocketbooks. They would be better off resting- unless the event and incentive is BIG.

I like your idea but isn't it a better idea to donate that money to a charity or something? I hate to be a socialist but I think that $30M or whatever would be better used to feed kids in Africa or something....

That’s ideal, but I’m being realistic with the mindset of these players. These players today are entitled. These are not philanthropists at heart, but can be with the right tax incentive. You have to attack from all sides. That means the player has to get something, the player has to play for something meaningful, the fans can potentially get something, and the nba of course gets the attention it’s been wanting especially from the betting that would go bonkers. This would cover every angle. You think a teammate would let Lillard shoot 40 ft 3 pointers with 2 million personal and a million in charity at stake? You’d see arguments. You’d see emotion. Most importantly, you’d see a competitiveness we have yet to see. Even more than the old school days.

I really don’t think you would. The problem is not that players don’t make enough money to be competitive in the all star game, it’s that they make too much. Contracts are just too big now to care. It’s not difficult to incentive role players to try in a friendly match, especially not the young guys, particularly because they’re not pocketing $50 million no matter what happens.

[VeggieBurger]

The players are paid too much money to care about the all-star game. The all-star game has no in-season ramifications the way it does for the MLB.

There's only one option:

An MLB model where winning conference gets home court advantage in the Finals.

If Silver isn't willing to make drastic measures, then just get rid of the event completely. It's a garbage event from start to finish.

The problem with baseball is that it doesn’t pose nearly the injury risk that NBA or NFL does. Luka Doncic is not going to play harder so that Anthony Edwards gets home court advantage. It’s just not going to happen without some type of fiscal incentive in the NBA or NFL for that matter.

[LofJ]

I started to watch the all-star game twice last night, but they were doing extraneous stuff both times so I just gave up. Start the game when you say you're going to start it. I'm not going to sit though commercials, national anthems, talking heads, and all the other BS going on.

I just want to watch the damn game. As long as that's going on I will sit through some commercials, commentary, etc. I might even pay attention to some of it, but that is NOT happening before the game has even started.

[Wolveswin]

Should not happen in middle of season. Silly that all star is a 1/2 season award. Contracts, accolades and resumes are based on 1/2 season selection.

I like beginning of following season. After players have rested and come back needing exhibition games to get in shape.

+Best 15 players based on whole last season. Divisions or conferences don’t matter.

Who do they play?

+1 game against nba champion. Yes if NBA champion has an all star(s) they retain him.

+1 game against Euro all star team. Not NBA Euro players but Euro league.

+1 game against Future NBA stars team.

+games are played in foreign cities.

[VeggieBurger]

I like your idea but isn't it a better idea to donate that money to a charity or something? I hate to be a socialist but I think that $30M or whatever would be better used to feed kids in Africa or something....

That’s ideal, but I’m being realistic with the mindset of these players. These players today are entitled. These are not philanthropists at heart, but can be with the right tax incentive. You have to attack from all sides. That means the player has to get something, the player has to play for something meaningful, the fans can potentially get something, and the nba of course gets the attention it’s been wanting especially from the betting that would go bonkers. This would cover every angle. You think a teammate would let Lillard shoot 40 ft 3 pointers with 2 million personal and a million in charity at stake? You’d see arguments. You’d see emotion. Most importantly, you’d see a competitiveness we have yet to see. Even more than the old school days.

I really don’t think you would. The problem is not that players don’t make enough money to be competitive in the all star game, it’s that they make too much. Contracts are just too big now to care. It’s not difficult to incentive role players to try in a friendly match, especially not the young guys, particularly because they’re not pocketing $50 million no matter what happens.

Ok, so let’s say the players were offered 100 million each, do you think they’d “try harder”?