INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The NBA All-Star Weekend that most fans see are the headline events throughout the weekend, the televised media availability and the NBA Crossover fan event.
But behind the scenes, players, executives and agents come together for conferences, summits and, of course, conversations about the league itself. And while NBA Commissioner Adam Silver addresses many of the NBA’s hottest topics — tanking, prediction markets and expansion, to name a few — in his annual All-Star press conferencehere is a collection of what Athletics NBA personnel were heard during coverage of All-Star Weekend in and around Los Angeles.
David Aldridge
Tanking. This problem has everyone’s attention and it must be fixed, for good, and finally.
Sam Amick
The LA Clippers, and whether they’re about to get hammered by the NBA when the results of the Aspiration scandal investigation become known. Like my colleagues (Joe Vardon and Mike Vorkunov) so well detailed hereThe Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz firm that handles this sort of league business has been on the case for months now, and there was a strong feeling in league circles that it was everyone’s responsibility to reach a conclusion after All-Star Weekend took place in Clippers owner Steve Ballmer’s building.
Mirin Fader
I spent the entire weekend at the Basketball Without Borders camp, so the conversations I was having with other media and NBA staff were more focused on global issues, like how the league can further grow grassroots hoops around the world in pockets that perhaps traditionally have less basketball than other places. Many people have commented on the magnitude of BWB. It was so crowded the first two days of camp that many people stood along the walls instead of sitting in the bleachers or in the handful of folding chairs provided.
Zach Harper
The two big issues I heard all weekend were about tanking and whether players would care enough about the weekend as a whole, especially the Sunday games. Tanking, however, is a much bigger problem. I know Adam Silver can’t announce his plans to fix it, even if they’re just half-baked ideas, but he hasn’t given the impression of having much confidence that he has solutions ready to go. It’s not something more to ask of players, like All-Star Weekend. It’s the team’s executives and owners who decide that the final third of the season doesn’t matter to the collective product they’re offering at full price, and that’s a major problem.
John Hollinger
Tanking, tanking, tanking, tanking and tanking. There have also been discussions about tanking. Teams’ increasingly brazen efforts to eliminate more or less healthy players, put their worst players on the field in key moments, and otherwise “manage” their place in the standings have sparked a mixture of “what are you going to do?” » shrugs and occasional political reflections. But almost every conversation I’ve had has ended here.
Jason Jones
I was in several different spaces this weekend, so I heard and participated in all kinds of conversations. The biggest thing I heard repeatedly was “Why is this weekend so bland?” » I don’t think the 2pm local departures helped. Nor was it possible to hold events everywhere from Los Angeles to Beverly Hills. Either way, everyone wants this weekend to be more fun.
Murray Law
The culture of complaint. There is always something to complain about. And it’s not that complaints aren’t legitimate, but they shouldn’t dominate the conversation. Fans and media like to talk about things that have nothing to do with the game or the players. Basketball should be made of connective tissue, and the emphasis should always be on that. And yes, I understand the irony of my complaints about complaints from sports fans and the media.
Shakeia Taylor
Attendance and general fan interest, or lack thereof, was a constant conversation throughout the weekend. It’s clear the league has some things to iron out to make the event something fans want to see and participate in. The focus on entertainment and not basketball causes people to opt out of the weekend.
Jared Weiss
The No. 1 topic by far was how much of a nightmare it was to drive through Los Angeles in traffic, because this has to be the most extensive All-Star weekend I’ve ever seen, with the Clippers hosting the main festivities in Inglewood. But after spending a lot of time at various industry events around the weekend, the next conversation focused on how the influx of money from new sources, such as the gaming industry and sovereign wealth funds, is reshaping perceptions of the sport. Giannis Antetokounmpo Even though most people agreed that Antetokounmpo wasn’t doing anything nefarious and that the timing was simply bad for this announcement, it catalyzed an existential debate about how conflicts of interest seep into all areas of business.
