As the NBA drifts closer and closer to the February trade deadline and rumors fly around daily, another hot topic of conversation has entered the fold: the All-Star Game. The most recent NBA superstar to insert his opinion is San Antonio Spurs center and future league MVP Victor Wembanyama. As the league’s future, the NBA would be wise to weigh Wemby’s thoughts.
Future MVP Could Change Future of the All-Star Game
Future League MVP Victor Wembanyama Gives His Take on the Future of the All-Star Game
In the past week, we’ve heard from Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, and LeBron James about the upcoming All-Star game to be held in San Fransisco at the home of the Golden State Warriors. So far, many in and outside the league have panned the league’s newly updated blueprint for the event. ESPN personality and First Take voice Stephen A. Smith also sounded the alarm bells last week on his show. He decried the current state of the current All-Star game product. He has harped on this very topic for years. If you listen to the widely shared opinions of those around the league, it would appear that NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and his team have missed the mark on this one. That said, the game has yet to be played, so a true verdict is waiting.
The backlash that has plagued the league’s collaborative superstar pickup contest over recent years is rooted in the complete lack of competitiveness executed by the players involved. This particular view is grounded in Stephen A.’s perspective, and he’s not wrong. Competitiveness simply does not exist anymore in the All-Star game, and it needs to change. Usher in Wembanyama, who is no doubt the future of the league and future all-around attraction for the NBA to hitch their global product to. Wemby chimed in with his All-Star game thoughts after the Spurs win over the Portland Trail Blazers Saturday night. [4:25 mark]
“I’m personally wondering how to put competitiveness back into the All-Star game,” Wembanyama said. “When I set foot on that court, though, I’m gonna be competitive for sure. But I don’t think nothing beats the old-school East-West format.”
Wemby Could Be the Change the NBA Needs
Wembanyama’s comments should stir the league up to enact future change. Why? Because he is the future of the league, and his words should hold weight. First of all, the fact that Wemby is willing to tackle the competitiveness factor personally is thrilling. Second, admitting he will be an example of competitiveness has to be music to ears everywhere. If he goes out there in February and genuinely gives all the effort he has available, don’t you think others like LeBron, KD, AD, Nikola Jokic, etc., etc., would follow suit? They should almost feel forced to lest they fall victim to embarrassment. Imagine if Wemby went out there and played like he would in an NBA game. Then, imagine if someone with LeBron’s stature and aura saw that and did the same. We’re watching a completely different All-Star game at that point.
Wembanyama’s stance on the future format going back to East vs. West is important in its own right. Frankly, given his career trajectory and LeBron’s, Wemby’s opinions should be given more attention. That’s not to dismiss LeBron’s stances on anything, but his career is very close to ending. This year could be his last All-Star game. Wemby, on the other hand, has only just begun his career.
It would be quite the spectacle if inside the Chase Arena on Sunday, February 16th, for the NBA All-Star game, Victor Wembanyama tried to play basketball. An event like that, initiated by a player like him, could be the change the NBA needs for future All-Star games to come.
