By all accounts, All-Star Weekend celebrating the National Basketball Association’s 75th anniversary was a resounding success. Marquee names of yesteryear, still recognizable to casual observers even in this day and age of turnstile popularity measures, gathered together to lend gravitas to the proceedings. The February weather notwithstanding, Ohio became an extremely welcoming state, with warm smiles and well wishes in abundance at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland. The oldies took center stages, and deservedly so.
In the end, however, today’s stars shone brightest. The All-Star Game lived up to its billing as the centerpiece of the festivities, aided in no small part by the Elam Ending. Once again, the unique rules, put in place in 2020, propped up the motivation of players to compete in an affair that would have otherwise been rendered inconsequential. Even as defense remained optional at best, interest picked up considerably at the end of quarters throughout the fourth period. Forget about the final score, which had the two teams putting up an aggregate 323 points. What mattered was that the contest came down to the final shot.
And speaking of the outcome, it was only fitting to find Ohio natives Stephen Curry and LeBron James ruling the roost. The former canned a whopping 50 markers, all but two from a record-setting 16 treys. The three-point line didn’t even matter, as makes rained from just about anywhere and everywhere on the floor. The greatest shooter in league history put up a clinic and showed unlimited range. Meanwhile, the greatest player in history — or just about, depending on perspective — provided the game-winning basket courtesy of a ridiculous turnaround jumper off one foot.
Off the court, James paid due respect to childhood idol and acknowledged first among equals Michael Jordan, leading to an iconic embrace of past and present. At 37, he knows his time to step back from the limelight is coming. But not yet. He continues to norm ridiculous numbers, continues to be the top vote getter, continues to win, continues to command the room. When he can no longer do so is anybody’s guess. Between now and then, however, the NBA would do well to prep for the inevitable.
That said, commissioner Adam Silver is right. There’s a reason James still holds sway even in his 19th season. “I want to be absolutely clear. I am not prepared to talk about the post-LeBron era, and I don’t think it’s because I’m in denial” the league honcho told Yahoo! Sports. “From my standpoint, LeBron is still playing at the very highest level in the league.” In other words, more of the same old, same old will be in store for some time to come — and it’s just as well.
POSTSCRIPT: Pro hoops fans in this part of the world were only too happy to get their fill of the All-Star Weekend via NBA League Pass, NBA TV Philippines, TV5, and One Sports. And, yes, they were invested in the showing of personalities with ties to the Asia-Pacific region. If nothing else, the participation of Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra, the Rockets’ Jalen Green, the Thunder’s Josh Giddey, and G League Ignite’s Dyson Daniels underscored the global reach of the most accessible, fan-friendly league in all of organized sports.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and Human Resources management, corporate communications, and business development.
