Team Giannis earned a 184-175 victory over Team LeBron in an NBA All-Star Game lacking much intensity or any defense.
Denver Nuggets head coach Mike Malone, who oversaw the losing team, called it “the worst basketball game ever played.” Some fans went to bed longing for the days when stars like Kobe Bryant took the exhibition a bit more seriously.
Bryant’s comments about the All-Star Game from 2019 are even more prescient today. The former NBA legend said the game “needs a little revamping” during a Players Tribune podcast.
“It used to be competitive,” Bryant said. “Fans want to see the best pick-up game in the world. ‘Cause that’s what this is.”
He continued that fans don’t want to just see dunking and other “crazy” stuff.
“They want to see what happens when you get this collection of best basketball players on the planet, and they play, and they go head up against each other.”
Bryant made 18 All-Star Game appearances, earning four MVP honors now named after him. He was a huge reason the Western Conference won seven of the last nine games before the NBA switched to a draft in 2018.
The NBA took Bryant’s recommendation and tweaked the All-Star Game by adopting the Elam ending in 2020. In honor of the deceased star, the league designates a final target score of 24 points over the leader’s tally in the fourth quarter.
While it’s led to some more interesting conclusions, Sunday night’s game wasn’t close enough for either side to start playing hard. Team Giannis continued to heave half-court shot even when it only needed one point to win.
Bryant might not have enjoyed playing in a modern All-Star Game.
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