3 ways to further improve the All-Star Game
The 2018 NBA All-Star Game drew rave reviews for bringing competitiveness back to the event.
There was still a steady dose of of jaw-dropping highlights, but the stars locked in for the fourth quarter and treated fans to a thrilling and satisfactory finish. LeBron James single-handedly raised the level of intensity and was rewarded with his third career All-Star Game MVP.
This year's tweaks were steps in the right direction. Having captains pick their teams made the sides more cohesive, and awarding $100,000 to the winning players literally raised the stakes. Both initiatives addressed the issue of lackadaisical play following last year's shameful 192-182 result.
Here are three more ways to improve the All-Star Game:
Televise the draft
This is the obvious answer - so much so that commissioner Adam Silver already vowed to approach the players' union about it and later said a televised draft is likely to happen next year.
It's simply the next logical step after introducing the new format. The point of a draft is to drum up drama, but it's not dramatic if nobody knows what's happening. We should all see the guilt on the faces of the captains making picks, and the anguish from the players waiting to be picked. Keeping it in the dark just defeats the purpose.
The draft could take place on the Friday night of All-Star weekend. The two captains could pick from a lineup of 22 All-Stars at center court during halftime of the Rising Stars game.
Best 24 players
Since the league has already ditched the East vs. West idea, there's no specific need to pick 12 players from each conference.
It should be as simple as having the best NBA players in the game. There is always an imbalance of talent between the two conferences, and this year was no different, as worthwhile players like Chris Paul and Paul George missed the cut (George was eventually named as an injury reserve).
Meanwhile, the East selections have featured the likes of Goran Dragic, Andre Drummond, Jeff Teague, Kyle Korver, a washed-up Carmelo Anthony, and an even more washed-up Pau Gasol over the last four years. With all due respect to those players, they're not the main attractions of an All-Star Game.
Less Kevin Hart
Kevin Hart is a hugely successful comedian and a favorite among NBA players, but It's time for someone else to play host.
His immensely corny pregame routine fell flat as he treated fans to an unfunny skit that resembled something out of a high school drama class. The collective Twitterverse ripped the league right before its marquee showcase, which brought needless negative attention to an otherwise festive occasion.
Kevin Hart doesn't have to be dropped entirely. He's dynamite alongside the "Inside the NBA" crew, and it's always funny to see him cut NBA players down to his size. But after being force-fed into every All-Star weekend dating back a decade, it would be nice to see someone other than Hart for once.