Image via Semaj Musco

By: Auzzy Byrdsell, Editor-in-Chief

The weekend shed light on the league’s most decorated and celebrated stars’ longevity and legacies. Out of the 24 players selected to be All-Stars, 12 have been selected five or more times, making their selections routine. The league’s veterans and those in their prime still find ways to keep anticipation high for the break. 

“I may not be caught off guard by making the All-Star Game, but I’m still grateful to be here and to be able to get that, because it’s not something you take for granted,” Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum said. 

Tatum played in his fifth consecutive All-Star Game. As the Celtics sit comfortably at the top of the Eastern Conference, he said the break gives him time to be with family and make new memories with players he grew up watching. 

Heading into the break, oftentimes the teams’ veterans and leaders are either maintaining or trying to establish strong placement in the rankings in preparation for the playoffs. The weekend also gives players a chance to recharge and reflect after the first half of the season. 

“You get great memories from conversations I remember I’ve had with Carmelo (Anthony), conversations I get to have tomorrow with Dame (Damian Lillard), Tyrese (Haliburton), (Jalen) Brunson – all these players that I’ve had the honor to share the locker room with,” Giannis Antetokounmpo said. 

For the league’s most prominent faces like LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant, the weekend served as a chance to mark their stature and the growth of the game. 

James said he remembers coming into his first All-Star appearance in 2005 and being astonished sharing spaces with Vince Carter, Allen Iverson, Grant Hill and more.

“At heart and deep inside, I’m still that 18-year-old kid that came into this league from Akron, Ohio, where we don’t have many inspirations,” he said. 

He said seeing players like first time All-Stars Paulo Banchero and Jalen Brunson was refreshing for veterans like himself. 

Over the past five seasons, the NBA has also changed different aspects of the events during the weekend to create a more competitive and entertaining atmosphere. These changes also help create new excitement for the players to experience something new year after year. 

This year, the league added an extra 3-point competition between Stephen Curry and two-time WNBA All-Star Sabrina Ionescu, a refined skills challenge and a new visual aspect on the floor for the dunk contest. 

“To keep people engaged is tough to do, so I think they’re doing the best job they can,” Durant said.  

The league also went back to the Eastern vs. Western Conference format for the first time in five seasons, bringing back a little familiarity for some All-Stars and nostalgia for others. 

“This was my first All-Star Game experiencing East versus West and that’s what I kind of grew up watching, so I enjoyed that,” Tatum said. 

Next year’s All-Star Weekend is lined up to be in the Bay Area. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and the league are still looking for ways to keep the veterans involved in the weekend. 

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