After just two possessions, former Boston Celtics writer Bob Ryan realized nothing had changed as he saw the 2024 NBA All-Star Game. When the East stars faced the West stars, he was hoping for a little bit of rivalry.
Rather, it was the same old joke of a game that saw the East win 211-186 on Sunday, February 18, with 397 points and just three fouls. After it was finished, Ryan let go with his frustration, accusing the NBA players of giving the middle finger to multiple people, including Celtics star Larry Bird, by playing the way they did.
Any sport’s All-Star game has turned into a farce, but none is worse than the NBA version. There are ten guys without a defensive mentality on the floor. It’s a humiliating occasion with no spirit of competition.
Ryan didn’t take long to criticize the occasion, calling it a slap in the face to athletes who are fierce competitors like Bird.
“The NBA is guilty of consumer fraud and fraudulent advertising,” Ryan declared on the “Bob Ryan & Jeff Goodman Podcast.” This has been marketed as a basketball game. This isn’t a hoops match.
After the first quarter, I departed. After two possessions, I realized that nothing had changed. That was known to us. Nothing altered. In the hopes that these players would collaborate and play a true game of basketball, Gary Washburn reports to us all that was said and done during the day when I pick up The Boston Globe this morning.
All they did was basically give everyone the finger. Give Larry Bird and Adam Silver the finger and just state, “No, we’re going to do it our way.”
Ryan is aware that NBA All-Star Games have historically been far more competitive than what we saw this past weekend. He claimed that those under 40 aren’t likely to be grumbling as much as he is.
All he says is that this isn’t how the game has to be.
Ryan remarked, “If my opinion is the minority opinion, fine, so be it.” However, I simply want to let everyone know that All-Star games don’t have to be like that. They might have fierce rivalry. I miss them even though I’ve seen and covered them.
It sounds like a really interesting event. It’s not basketball anymore. It’s all in jest.
Gary Tanguay, Ryan’s co-host, said he couldn’t picture Bird or Magic Johnson performing in this manner.
“I find it hard to believe that Larry Bird and Magic Johnson could still play the game the way they do now,” Tanguay remarked. “Lawrence and Magic could only give it their all if you put them out there at any point in their lives.”
Ryan concurred and added Bill Russell and Michael Jordan.
Ryan concurred and added Bill Russell and Michael Jordan.
Ryan claimed, “They wouldn’t even comprehend the idea of not going out and giving it your all in a game that’s supposed to be the height of achievement in their sport.”
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