By Alvin Halimwidjaya
The NBA is the league that has the most fun when the ball is not in play. From Twitter beef and fashion statements to in-game fights and adventures through reportedly secret tunnels, professional basketball in America has built a reputation of turning ludicrous at a moment’s notice. Consequently, fans can find fun in both blockbuster trades and Isaiah Thomas liking an Instagram video of Jalen Rose calling Paul Pierce “petty”. With the All-Star Game just around the corner, the NBA seems to be leaning towards not televising the newly implemented draft method they’ve set in place, and I’m here to tell everyone that we should all be upset about this.
The NBA All-Star Game has lost some (arguably all) of its luster in the past few years. The Dunk Contest and the Three-Point Contest have both seen respective resurgences after a stagnant period, but the main event has proceeded to be little more than the Harlem Globetrotters playing against… well, the Harlem Globetrotters. Though an All-Star selection continues to be a respectable achievement in a player’s career, when Stephen Curry is lying down as Giannis Antetokounmpo slams in a windmill dunk, it’s clear that it would do well for the game to be taken more seriously. However, to be clear, I would have done the exact same thing if a 6’11” alien was barreling down the runway for takeoff in a contest with absolutely no stakes.
In an effort to make the All-Star Game more exciting, the NBA decided this year that though the process of choosing 12 players from each conference would remain the same, all 24 players would then be entered into a draft pool and divided between two captains in the style of a playground pickup game. While not the final solution, this is a great first step to take. The game would not only produce unprecedented combinations of players we would so rarely get to see (Lebron and KD! Steph and Kyrie! Giannis and Boogie!!), but the draft would also provide an excellent opportunity for players to show their petty side. Does Lebron leave Kyrie off his team? Would Westbrook leave KD off his team? The possibilities would be endless, and memes would be zipping across Twitter feeds.
However, if the draft is not televised, then a novel idea with tantalizing potential simply loses its glamour. If the two lists are simply released to the public, we don’t get to see emotions and expressions involved in the player politics that could very well determine which player is chosen. What’s the point of Kyrie and Lebron staying on different teams if you can’t see the palpable tension grow with each pick? And if you don’t think there would be palpable tension, then you’re just missing out on the joy of NBA drama.
Proponents of keeping the draft private have said that they wouldn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings by broadcasting them being picked last, but that’s just a ridiculous excuse. This is the cream of the NBA crop; being picked last has no meaning if you’re still better than roughly 80 percent of the players in the NBA. With all the potential upside fans can find in a televised All-Star draft, this change is something people should push for. It would not only make the All-Star Game more competitive and fun, but it would also cement the NBA’s reputation of being the most exciting league off the court.
