Knicks' Jalen Brunson Embraces MLB-Style Solution to Save NBA All-Star Game
Take me out to the (basket)ball game.
The NBA All-Star Game has lingered as a talking point for all the wrong reasons: Sunday's win for the Eastern Conference squad in Indianapolis, ending in a 211-186 final, has caused many to question the annual exhibition's purpose and continued usefulness. In response to the lack of effort on display, the NBA has tried several gimmicky tweaks, the latest being a return to the conference-vs.-conference format previously replaced a "fantasy draft" set-up.
One of Sunday's participants, Jalen Brunson, has endorsed one of the more popular solutions, one that would take a page out of Major League Baseball's book.
David Banks, USA TODAY SPORTS
"I don't know if baseball does it anymore, but the winner of the All-Star Game (could get) home-court advantage in the finals," the point guard proposed on his podcast "Roommates," co-hosting alongside fellow New York Knicks star Josh Hart. "That's cool. I think that's one way that could at least make it interesting in the fourth quarter.”
Brunson is referring to MLB's polarizing reward to its All-Star Game victors, one that afforded the winner of the Midsummer Classic homefield advantage at the World Series. The adjustment was first enacted in 2003 after the prior season's exhibition ended in a 7-7 tie after 11 innings and stayed in place through 2016.
Beyond that, Brunson had a hard time conjuring up other solutions, reasoning that current contracts would require an "astronomical" prize if a cash reward was offered to the exhibition's winners. Brunson further claimed that the supposed lack of effort isn't intentional on the players' parts, but the risk of injury is too great to offer any true resistance in an otherwise meaningless exhibition game.
“I’m not saying guys don’t want to compete," Brunson said. "It’s just like if something happens, organizations and everyone’s going to be (peeved)."
Brunson partook in his first All-Star festivities last weekend, appearing in the Three-Point Contest as well as the defensively-challenged main event. The Villanova alum scored 12 points and dished out five assists in the offensive carnage, which saw the East sink 42 three-pointers as one of several records set in the win.
Brunson and the Knicks hardly need any extra incentive to give it their all on this Saturday night, as they're set to welcome in the NBA-leading Boston Celtics (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC).
