‘Four hours of my life I’ll never get back’: NBA fans turn on All-Star farce

It was a historic NBA All-Star clash but while it would usually lead to rejoicing, basketball fans have turned on the annual fixture.

Damian Lillard sunk two from half-court. Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images

Another year, another All-Star game savaged.

The 2024 NBA All-Star game has ended in a stunning 211-186 win by the Eastern Conference, shattering all kinds of records.

211 is the most points by a team, breaking the West’s 2016 record of 196, 397 is the most points in an All-Star game, the East’s 107 the most points in a half by a team, while 204 combined was the highest scoring half in history.

But scoring points wasn’t most people’s issue with the match — once again, having a complete lack of competition was.

Watch an average of 9 NBA Regular Season games per week LIVE on ESPN, available via Kayo. New to Kayo? Start Your Free Trial Today >

Having reverted from a format that saw players picked by the two captains to the conference-based format in 2024, the move did nothing to increase the competition as defence not only took a back seat but didn’t even enter the building.

Coming after last years’ match was labelled “the worst basketball game ever played” by Nuggets coach Michael Malone, it’s clear the NBA hasn’t learned its lesson.

Once again, the match was little more than a casual pick-up game with the best players in the world than a serious contest.

Not a lot of pressure on Karl-Anthony Towns. Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images

And the fans have had enough.

The Ringer’s Bill Simmons said: “It’s funny that we spend so much time on All Star Starters/Subs/Snubs and then the game always sucks a**.”

Retired Boston Globe columnist Bob Ryan tweeted: “Once again, these NBA stars are showing no respect for the game. It’s another Dunkarama and 3-point farce. Not a single hand in anyone’s face. I’ll see how TCM is doing. See you next year. What a waste of time. Adam, you must do something. It’s embarrassing for your sport.

“If you’re not personally offended but this disgraceful farce taking place right now in Indy, you don’t love or understand basketball, These ‘All-Stars’ should be censured. And where are the coaches? Have any of them have any pride? They’re all acting like athletic court jesters.”

ESPN’s Shannon Sharpe wrote: “NBA all star gm has turned into shooting 3s and dunks.”

Sportscentre’s Scott Van Pelt commented: “It’s really simple: if you don’t care, neither do we.”

I think I’m officially an old man. The All-Star game is absolute trash. #NBAAllStar2024pic.twitter.com/8bVdRiS35z

— Beau J Van Beek (@bjvanbeek) February 19, 2024

the All-Star game is becoming the NFL Pro Bowl…this is absolutely terrible…#NBAAllStar2024pic.twitter.com/kmPEPA6s8y

— the HOLY GOOF △⃒⃘ (@pezdspencer_) February 19, 2024

This is one of the worst all star games of all time. WTF is this? Adam Silver has a major problem.....🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬 @NBA#NBAAllStar2024#NBAAllStarWeekend#NBAAllStar#NBApic.twitter.com/Yuh1urOzsi

— 🇭🇹👑King James👑🇭🇹 (@Mister7hursday) February 19, 2024

NBA All-Star weekend has such unreal potential to be the best weekend in North American sports and it has become just a total mockery, that's legitimately sad to me.

— Josh Eberley 🇨🇦 (@JoshEberley) February 19, 2024

One of the worst All Star Games in history

— Italo Santana (@BulletClubIta) February 19, 2024

At least there are both teams in this pic. Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images

Even LeBron James, who was playing in his 20th All-Star match, scoring just eight points in 14 minutes, said that he didn’t know if this was what the fans actually wanted.

“I think this is something we need to figure out,” he said.

“This is what a lot of the games are starting to look like too. You want to get more pace into the game, want to get more shots, want it to be more free-flowing.

“Honestly, from a player’s perspective, it’s fine to get up and down, but at the end of the day, our competitive nature don’t like just being able to have free flowing scoring like that.

“The good thing that came out of tonight is none of the players got injured and everybody came out of the game unscathed. But this is a deeper conversation.”

Damian Lillard scored 39 points to lead the East in the 73rd All-Star game.

The All-Star weekend is becoming little more than an open practice. Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images

Boston’s Jaylen Brown added 36 points off the bench and Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton also had 32 to run up the massive score.

On the other side, Minnesota’s Karl-Anthony Towns came off the West’s bench to score a game-high 50 points — 31 of them in the fourth quarter — while Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 31 in a losing cause.

Lillard, who sank a pair of half-court shots, made a game-high 11 three-pointers off 23 attempts and went 14-of-26 overall, earning the game’s Most Valuable Player award.

After a strong start he said the record was always in sight.

“Once we came out in the third and we made a lot of shots, it was like what’s the record,” Lillard said. “We found out and we went after it.”

While there were big dunks, elite passing and a mountain of three-pointers, the lack of competition left a lot to be desired.

East captain Giannis Antetokounmpo said: “Everybody played hard. We had fun. The ball was moving. We made a lot of threes. We scored a lot of points. I’m happy.”

East shot 83 of 146 from the floor and made a record 42 three-pointers, six over the old mark by Team LeBron in 2019, in 97 attempts.

With AFP

Originally published as ‘Four hours of my life I’ll never get back’: NBA fans turn on All-Star farce