Getty Image / David Berding
- The 2021-22 NBA All-Star Weekend has received a lot of criticism for the worst Slam Dunk Contest yet and an All-Star Game without any defense
- Minnesota Twins 3B Josh Donaldson took a blowtorch to every other league’s All-Star Games while comparing them to MLB’s
- Read more Baseball articles right here
The NBA All-Star Weekend is officially over and now the players get a few days off before returning to league play on Thursday. Looking back on this season’s NBA All-Star activities will leave a bad taste in a lot of fans’ mouths and that’s being nice.
This year featured what was arguably the most disappointing NBA Slam Dunk Contest ever recorded. And that was followed up by an ELECTRIC performance from Stephen Curry for Team LeBron in an All-Star Game that was otherwise panned for not having an ounce of defense but a great end to the game. The final score was 160 Team Durant – 163 Team LeBron.
I don’t actually need a lot of defense in a basketball game to find it enjoyable. Give me Steph Curry shooting 3-points from half-court all night and I’m a happy camper. But I understand why many NBA fans and other pro athletes like Minnesota Twins 3B Josh Donaldson are disappointed by this year’s NBA All-Star Game.
Donaldson took to Twitter with a scathing take on the NBA All-Star Game and a LOT of basketball fans were quick to agree with his take.
Josh Donaldson Goes Scorched Earth On NBA All-Star Game
Baseball is the only legitimate All Star game in sports. You can’t go easy when a guy throws a 100. All the other sports besides hockey should stop having them. It’s actually embarrassing to watch.
— Josh Donaldson (@BringerOfRain20) February 21, 2022
If that tweet isn’t loading for you, it reads: “Baseball is the only legitimate All Star game in sports. You can’t go easy when a guy throws a 100. All the other sports besides hockey should stop having them. It’s actually embarrassing to watch.”
The NHL’s All-Star Game is a fantastic format that the NBA could actually adopt but it would mean splitting up most of the NBA’s All-Stars and that’s not good for the league. I think everyone would agree the NFL would be just fine without the Pro Bowl, their version of an All-Star Game.
But the only thing the NBA All-Star Game is really missing is defense. If there was something on the line like home-court advantage West vs. East in the NBA Finals then maybe it would matter more to the players. That didn’t stop a ton of players from agreeing and disagreeing about the various All-Star Games in response to Josh Donaldson’s tweet.
Reacts To Josh Donaldson’s Tweet About The NBA All-Star Game
He does that every day in warm ups. This game is same level of defense.
— Josh Donaldson (@BringerOfRain20) February 21, 2022
This. While the ASG is fun. The fact that they have interesting competitions to show off just how skilled their players are definitely elevates them.
— Bree Michelle (@ree_michele) February 21, 2022
home run derby > slam dunk contest
— Shaheer Khan (@ShiftyShaheer) February 21, 2022
Definitely find myself agreeing with this take:
Agree with you in saying that baseball is the most competitive but you can’t say watching Steph curry make 40 footers one after another isn’t entertaining. #NBAAllStar
— John Tucker (@johntucker__88) February 21, 2022
Robbing fans of seeing all their favorite players in one spot is a great idea pic.twitter.com/T4vcCtrDqs
— Jᴏʀᴅᴀɴ 🤟🏾 (@Jlil10_) February 21, 2022
He’s not wrong…
more contact in the nba all star game than the pro bowl
— Tiger Donaldson (@PrimeDonaldson) February 21, 2022
This is the level of effort that’s killing the NBA All-Star Game…
What the hell is this level of effort pic.twitter.com/uzTnY5QaI8
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) February 21, 2022