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The NBA all star break has come and gone, and it was met with several criticisms right from the get go - from obvious exclusions of worthy talented individuals who have performed throughout the season like D Aaron Fox, to the actual game itself which was nothing more than a glorified exhibition show.

I did watch snippets of the game and could understand why instantly. It would have been a chore for any true basketball fan who loves competition to watch as both teams were lethargic in their play, hardly putting effort with defensive or concerned with raising the intensity of the game save for the final few minutes. Thumbs up does go to Kyrie Irving though, he was the sole exception to this from what I observed and was reported.

In all honesty there are valid reasons for players choosing not to go too hard, and they are perfectly reasonable. The fear of injuries and missing crucial parts of the season's finale is very real and to players it isn't simply worth the risk considering that the All star game has no actual benefits. LeBron James for instance did pick up a mild injury during the game when he tried to play some defense, so that serves as a good case in point.

Yet what is the point of having fans attend such a game if they are not going to get any excitement from it? Perhaps some people could be satisfied seeing all their favorite basketball players in one place, but for most people there has to be more than imagining all your favorite heroes in a room. Watching superstars perform like superstars should be the point of an all star game, and as long as that is missing, it will always attract substantial criticism.

A Fundamental Problem?

The players also have a case to answer. Since I started following the NBA more intently a few years ago, the first thing that sticks out is how some of these superstars are focused on building their personal brands rather than the team. The average NBA team for instance revolves around one or two superstar player(s) and a couple of serviceable role players that act as a support crew.

Yes, this formula has largely worked, and talents are not evenly distributed, but that doesn't mean that it doesn't come with its baggage. We now have up and coming players for instance (see Houston Rockets team this season) who focus on building their brands and padding stats rather than playing as a team and actually winning games.

These love for personal branding is perhaps why a player like Nikola Jokic recieves tons of praise for his selfless mode of basketball which has made him favorite for yet another MVP award this year. One could also argue that this form of play is also a form of branding. It becomes a problem when youngsters are taught early that they could become superstars by being a lot more selfish and individualistic rather than simply enjoying the game.

A true all star raises the game for the entire team and perhaps most All Star players meet that criteria, but many are yet to come to terms with what it means.