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A lot of people weren’t very happy with how the 2024 NBA All-Star Game played out, including, by the looks on his face, NBA commissioner Adam Silver.
Counted among those were were upset by how the NBA All-Star Game, and the weekend in general, went is Stephen A. Smith, who says the NBA should just “do away” with the game.
Oh yeah, he also blamed LeBron James for ruining the NBA Dunk Contest.
“I’m of this mindset right now. They need to do away with All-Star Weekend. Just get rid of it,” Stephen A. Smith said on First Take Monday morning. “The three-point shooting contest? I’m totally good with … The overall three-point shooting contest never cheats us, never disappoints us. They’re going out there, their shooting, trying to make shots. There’s nothing wrong with the three-point.
“I’m talking about the skills competition, I’m talking about the slam dunk competition and I’m talking about the All-Star Game.
“Ladies and gentleman, what transpired last night was an absolute travesty,” Smith continued. “Nearly 400 points were scored. No defense, no effort whatsoever. This is the ultimate indictment against NBA stars who show up on All-Star Weekend. You play harder in the summer when you’re training.”
He was only just getting started.
“Nobody’s asking you to compete like you’re going up against the playoffs or even a regular season game,” Smith went on, adding, “That is not hard. The fact that you would go out and flagrantly show such a lack of effort on the defensive side of the ball in any capacity is just a travesty.”
As for the slam dunk contest? Well, it’s all LeBron’s fault.
“I blame your boy LeBron James, Shannon Sharpe. Not for the All-Star Game, but for the slam dunk contest,” said Smith. “He’s never participated. He is the only superstar, above-the-rim superstar in the history of the game who did not participate in the slam dunk contest.”
Again, he was just getting started.
"LeBron James is directly responsible for ruining the Slam Dunk Contest."
😳 @stephenasmith pic.twitter.com/XXJf7Hth5s
— First Take (@FirstTake) February 19, 2024
“When we’re talking about the Slam Dunk Contest, from 1985 to 1997, five of the 13 slam dunk contests were won by future Hall of Famers,” Smith said. “Michael Jordan participated in the contest three times, Dominique Wilkins five times. Every high jumper, every skywalker, every above-the-rim talent salivated for the opportunity to compete in the slam dunk contest.
“It stopped when LeBron James said, ‘I’m not doing it.'”