LeBron James thinks the NBA has far bigger problems than the state of the All-Star Game, and it all should be looked at with the intent to take action.
“It’s not just the All-Star Game. It’s our game in general,” James said. “There’s a lot of f—ing 3s being shot. So it’s a bigger conversation than just the All-Star Game.”
LeBron confirmed he was “not part of the committee” who came up with the new All-Star format.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver addressed the criticism aimed at the increase in 3’s and other issues the league faces.
“The answer is yes, [we are having] many discussions about the style of basketball [being played],” Silver said. “I would not reduce it to a so-called 3-point shooting issue. I think we look more holistically at the skill level on the floor, the diversity of the offense, the fan reception to the game, all of the above.”
Anthony Davis flat out told reporters, “I don’t really like it,” when asked about the format change.
But James acknowledged, “Something had to change.”
“We’ll see, we’ll see when we get there,” LeBron continued. “It’s different. Obviously anytime you make some type of change it’s going to be some buck back. I don’t know. I mean, I have my ideas of what could possibly work. … You got to do something. Obviously, the last couple of years have not been a great All-Star Game that Sunday night.”
Silver further explained the issues around the recent increase in 3-point volume.
“It’s not unique to the NBA, where analytics start to be too controlling and create situations where players are doing seemingly unnatural things because they’re being directed to do something that is a more efficient shot,” Silver said. “And part of what we’re focusing on, too, is that what makes these players so incredible is the joy they bring to playing the game and the freestyle notion of the game too.
“I do think we should take seriously this notion of more diversity in offense. And I watch as many games as all of you do, and you know to the extent that it’s not so much a 3-point issue, but that some of the audience, some of the offenses, start to look sort of cookie cutter, and teams are copying each other. I think that’s something we should pay attention to.”
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