The All-Star Game continues to take criticism time and time again for its lack of competitiveness. This year was, unfortunately, no different, as fans felt the new format gave them less basketball and more of everything else.

From Mr. Beast offering a shooting contest for $100,000 to Kevin Hart and his brand of comedy being a bit overwhelming, the All-Star Game did feel slightly secondary at times. Players have been honest with their opinions on the game and what could be done to fix it all.

Nikola Jokić Addresses All-Star Weekend Criticism

It seems as if no one truly knows the answer to what can be done to fix the game, and the Denver Nuggets star and perennial MVP candidate seemed pretty stumped himself.

Nikola Jokić, who is currently averaging 29.8 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 10.2 assists per game, was direct and blunt in his response to the underwhelming festivities.

“I don’t know,” Jokić said, via the Denver Post. “I think it’s not a question for me. I don’t know. I think maybe we should focus on some other things than All-Star. I think it’s always going to be like this, so we should accept it.”

Jokić’s words were justified but rubbed some the wrong way. The NBA puts a lot of stock into All-Star Weekend every year, yet when the time comes, it seems as if the players are not interested in competing.

On some level, considering the NBA players only get one week off from competition throughout the 82-game season, their lack of enthusiasm is understandable. But these exhibitions are at their best when it resembles a playoff game, not a preseason social. How might the league return the game to its former glory?

Could the NBA Offer More Incentives for All-Stars?

Could the league offer more incentives to motivate the players to compete? Would the incentive make them put in the necessary effort to make the All-Star product much better?

There’s no way to tell. The league has made attempts to spice up the All-Star Game, but they’ve largely fallen flat. Perhaps encouraging superstars to take part in the Dunk Contest could raise the bar for the rest of the weekend.

Another suggestion is to go back to the old method with the best of the Western Conference taking on the best of the Eastern Conference. Stoking nostalgia while also simplifying the event could pay dividends.

If the league went back to the simple East vs. West setup, while adding some more incentives for the game’s biggest stars, it’s possible we can get a game that resembles the 2020 All-Star Game, which remains the last of its kind in recent years. Until then, fans can expect the type of telecast they endured in 2025 — and one they won’t hesitate to turn off.