In the latest news around the NBA, former President Barack Obama had some strong words about the lack of competitiveness in the All-Star Game. “Y’all gotta have a little more pride in that All-Star Game,” Obama said. “It’s not as if you all don’t play pickup during the summers. You know how to play in a way that, alright, I’m not going to hurt anybody, I’m not going to take anybody out, but that All-Star Game, it’s broke, man.”
Obama continued his critique by pointing out the lack of effort in the game, saying, “Like, people just like not running. Everybody just trying all kinds of… it used to be when Kobe and Michael and Isaiah and those guys were playing, man. I mean they weren’t playing the way they did regular season, but they wanted to win.”
Pacers guard Haliburton defended himself by comparing the conversation with Obama to talking to his father, but Obama wasn’t convinced. “It insults the game,” Obama added, emphasizing the need for players to take the game more seriously. “This is your business. This is your product. You don’t want people thinking you’re all out there just half-assed.”
The discussion also touched on the idea of implementing an in-season tournament to increase the competitiveness in the league. Obama concluded the conversation by stating, “Y’all need to do something because I ain’t watching that thing no more.” It seems like Obama is not alone in his sentiment.
The comments made by Obama have sparked a conversation within the basketball community about the state of the All-Star Game and the level of competition displayed by players. It remains to be seen if any changes will be made in response to these criticisms. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.