NBA icon Larry Bird wants athletes to put forth a lot of effort when playing….
The NBA decided to alter the format for the 2024 All-Star Game because the 2023 edition was so dull. The All-Star Draft will end. The Elam Ending is over.
It was the first time the league had returned to its original format since 2017. East against West. a standard four-quarter game. The league is hoping that this could help recreate some of the thrill that once defined the All-Star Games.
However, one former All-Star holds a distinct viewpoint. At Sunday’s Legends Brunch in Indianapolis, Larry Bird—who participated in twelve All-Star Games—spoke and offered some straightforward counsel to the twenty-four players who will take the court on Sunday night.
Bird stated, “The one thing I really hope to see is them play hard in this All-Star Game tonight.”
“It is imperative that when the world’s top players are together, they compete, play with intensity, and demonstrate their true abilities to the supporters.”
NBA legends other than Bird also made subliminal criticisms of the 2023 All-Star Game. During his news conference on Saturday, Commissioner Adam Silver acknowledged that the previous year’s All-Star Game received “uniformly negative” reviews and expressed his expectation for a stronger performance on Sunday.
Over time, the All-Star Game’s level of effort tends to change. For example, the game was hailed as a success in 2020 because of the exciting conclusion that the new Elam Ending produced. However, the league has already given up on the notion after four years. It’s possible that the players will be motivated to improve after last year’s humiliation, but past performance always seems to follow a fall in enthusiasm.
A Team USA vs. foreign players All-Star format has been proposed by several fans, which would spark some genuine rivalries. Perhaps a bigger monetary reward might inspire them. Ultimately, though, that is up to the participants. They are what add intrigue to the All-Star Game, and if they don’t play as hard as Bird asks, it won’t matter what the league does.
