Larry Bird is not one to mince words, and his recent comments about the state of the NBA All-Star Game underscore his disdain for how the mid-season classic has evolved. Bird, known for his fiercely competitive spirit during his playing days, told former Celtics reporter Bob Ryan that he finds the current All-Star Game a “joke” and is outright disgusted by it.
“I said, ‘Larry, what was your attitude toward All-Star games? ‘He said ‘I wanted to win’ period, quote unquote. ‘I wanted to win. We played competitive games.”
“You didn’t want anybody to get hurt, you didn’t go nuts, you didn’t go crazy, you didn’t do stupid things. But you played basketball. And you wanted to win. Well, we’ve gotten away from that. How Elementary is that.”
“He’s disgusted. He was invited last year. He thought it was a joke, and it is a joke. And it’s awful.”
In a conversation with Ryan at Bird’s residence in Naples, Florida, the Hall of Famer reminisced about the All-Star Games of his era. This sentiment reflects a bygone era when stars like Bird, Magic Johnson, and Michael Jordan used the All-Star Game as an opportunity to showcase their dominance against the league’s best.
Today’s version of the All-Star Game is a stark contrast, marked by minimal defense and a focus on flashy dunks and three-point shooting exhibitions. The lack of effort and competitiveness has turned what was once a highlight of the NBA calendar into what Bird sees as a hollow spectacle.
The NBA, aware of the criticisms surrounding the All-Star Game, has tried various formats to reignite interest and competitiveness. The most recent attempt included reverting to the traditional East versus West matchup, a format Bird himself played under. However, the effort backfired when the two teams combined for an absurd 397 points, with the Eastern Conference scoring 211—a number more fitting for an arcade game than an NBA contest.
To address these issues, Bird was invited to last year’s All-Star Game alongside fellow legends Julius Erving and Andre Iguodala to deliver speeches to the players. Bird implored them to “play hard” and “show the fans how good they really are.” Unfortunately, his words fell on deaf ears. The game, held in Bird’s home state of Indiana, devolved into the same lackluster showcase, further cementing his disappointment.
Bird’s frustrations stem from the lack of pride and effort he believes today’s stars bring to the All-Star Game. In Bird’s eyes, the All-Star Game should celebrate the best talent in basketball, with players genuinely competing to prove they belong among the elite. Instead, it has become a glorified layup line, devoid of the competitive edge that defined it in the past.
The NBA’s latest innovation is a four-team tournament format, set to debut in 2025. While this approach aims to add stakes to the All-Star festivities, Bird’s criticism serves as a reminder that structural changes alone may not be enough. The players must embrace the competitive spirit that once made the All-Star Game a must-watch event.
For Bird, the current state of the game is a far cry from the thrilling battles of his era. Unless the players themselves decide to take the event seriously, Bird—and many fans who share his sentiment—may continue to view the All-Star Game as little more than a missed opportunity to showcase the best of basketball.
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