The NBA has announced its All-Star starters for the upcoming game on February 16th. Fans rejoiced as the East team saw deserving players get the call. However, the same could not be said about the West All-Star starters as LeBron James, Steph Curry and Kevin Durant made the team again.
All three of their respective teams started this season well and many felt the Big 3 will lead the charge in the West. However, once November came about, they started to falter. At the same time, other younger teams overtook them in the standings.
The Los Angeles Lakers might have a better record than the Golden State Warriors or the Phoenix Suns. But there are obvious signs all three teams are struggling. They are not good enough to compete with the younger faster teams and are struggling to hold on to playoff spots.
But the NBA seemed to have taken their individual performances along with fan votes into consideration when announce the trio as starters for the West All-Star team. That is over the likes of the stellar young players leading the charge of their respective teams at the top of conference.
For instance, Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green is playing much better than Steph Curry. His teammate Alperen Sengun is a one of the best bigs in the conference. Jaren Jackson Jr. is leading the charge for the Memphis Grizzlies and even Victor Wembanyama is playing lights out.
Yet, the league still voted in those three players who are clearly a step behind. They still might be great players, but this season, neither of them have done anything to warrant being starters of the West All-Star team.
Fans slam NBA for focusing on marketing when selecting West All-Star starters
For basketball fans, it becomes all too obvious that the NBA does not want to stop milking LeBron James, Steph Curry and Kevin Durant. The timing is also right as the Paris Olympic documentary on Netflix will stream a couple of days later. Therefore, it seems to those paying the tickets that it is all about the money.
However, fans want to know why the league couldn’t promote some of their younger stars. They also question the logic behind these selections as they stormed social media seconds after the announcement.
What has KD BRON or Steph done this szn to warrant this? Embarrassing for the sport
— John Doe (@yrn_3hunnid) January 24, 2025
Come’on man, Curry, step aside. You are not that guy anymore. That’s Ants spot. #Stephaside
— dw (@damionatx) January 24, 2025
Tbh u shouldnt be an all star if ur team isnt in top 8
Just seems like common sense
— DefNotBiased (@wickedcollab) January 24, 2025
KD and Bron past their prime…..not deserving of starting spots.
— Juraph (@teetoejr) January 24, 2025
We are ready u try o move on. They are all on bad teams we don’t want to watch.
— David Johnson (@DavidJo08522081) January 24, 2025
Why are the NBA ratings tanking? Look at this geriatric lineup
— Rev. Damien Jones aka Clarence Thomas’ play nephew (@NobleNegroe) January 24, 2025
it’s a popularity contest, don’t try deny it
— Trav (@ALTrav4) January 24, 2025
LeBron being here proves it’s not about effectiveness.
— Pious Paddock (@phonys0prano) January 24, 2025
Fans feel it is high time for the NBA to stop trying to milk these aging stars. They had a golden opportunity to shift the focus on to their younger future in this All-Star weekend. But instead, they are going with what they think works.
With the declining viewership numbers, Commissioner Adam Silver can only hope this does not end up biting them back. The NBA needs something new to start drawing in the next generation of fans. But their actions suggest they are happy with a two-decade old formula.
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