If expectations are the basis of frustration, then anybody who anticipated the NBA’s All-Star Recreation, or the whole weekend for that matter, to be something different an entire and complete waste of everybody’s time deserves to be annoyed. 

You must’ve recognized coming in. The occasion stinks. No one desires something to do with it. The gamers do not actually need to play. The followers do not actually need to watch. I can guarantee you that folks like myself, who someway hit the Powerball occupation of getting paid to observe basketball, do not actually need to discuss or write about it.

I imply critically, Sunday’s All-Star Recreation “presentation” ran for nearly three hours and had about half-hour of precise basketball. The on-court motion, with some bursts of low-bar effort however, was as paint-drying terrible as we have all come to count on All-Star basketball to be. And but, all the different elements of the night time had been so painfully unhealthy that all of us really needed extra All-Star basketball. 

Kevin Hart? I have been questioning for years how this man, who got here off Sunday because the residing antithesis of humorous, turned so wildly standard. However now I am way more curious in regards to the individuals who had been accountable for deciding it was a good suggestion to have a cringeworthy comedian function an “on-court emcee.”

The nice irony right here is that an occasion that’s outlined by how little curiosity these insanely proficient superstars have in really attempting at their craft was being emceed by a man who solely is aware of how you can strive method too onerous at his. 

This entire three hours had been onerous to observe. It makes you marvel, who’s the NBA All-Star Recreation even for? I do know the reply is cash. Sponsors are sponsors and TV offers are TV offers, however good god is that this a nasty product. 

Thank the tv gods for Mac McClung within the Dunk Contest on Saturday night time for giving followers one thing value tuning in for this weekend. Often the 3-point contest is a decently enjoyable factor, however even that stunk this yr. 

Stephen Curry did not even take part on All-Star Saturday Evening on his house courtroom. Curry, who gained ASG MVP, did hit an informal half-courter within the All-Star Recreation. It was one of the best on-court spotlight of the night time. However some dude named Jaren really hit probably the most memorable shot on Sunday when he banked in a brand 3 for $100,000.

Jaren and Kevin Hart. That is what everybody will bear in mind in regards to the 2025 NBA All-Star manufacturing. There was a time when All-Star video games had been cool as a result of one of the best gamers on the planet cared sufficient to strive — not less than within the fourth quarter and/or once they had a specific one-on-one matchup — however these days, fairly clearly, are lengthy gone. 

There was additionally a time when the All-Star recreation was cool as a result of folks did not have entry to any NBA recreation they needed to observe any day of the week. Again within the day, you may not see a specific famous person play all season apart from the one time he got here to your market or confirmed up on nationwide tv. This was a chance to showcase a whole lot of superior gamers that had been largely hidden from the plenty. 

Now, it is simply the third time this week you are going to watch Jayson Tatum and Donovan Mitchell hearth up a bunch of 3s. There’s nothing thrilling or distinctive about it. Frankly, and I feel I converse for most individuals who genuinely do love watching NBA basketball, we already see greater than sufficient of those gamers, whether or not that is on TNT or ESPN or League Go.

It is sufficient. I guarantee you. No one wants this weekend, most notably the gamers themselves. Give them a break. And for the love of all issues holy, if nothing else, give us all a break from Kevin Hart.