Here's why the NBA has the best All-Star Game out of all leagues
Over the past few years, the MLB passed the NFL for most popular All-Star Game on television. But with the slam dunk and 3-point contest, the NBA offers the best overall All-Star experience.
Despite the fact the NBA All-Star Game earns lower television ratings than the MLB All-Star Game and the NFL Pro Bowl, basketball continues to put out the most exciting product. Across all sports, All-Star Games have struggled to earn impressive television ratings in recent years. The Pro Bowl earned a 7.7 rating in 2011 but fell to a 5.0 rating in 2016. For conext, the 2015 Super Bowl broke records with a 47.5 rating.
Unlike the NFL, however, all of the actual major "stars" in the sport compete in the event.
According to ESPN, the 2016 Pro Bowl invitation was declined by the most players in the event’s history. While 86 players were originally voted to the exhibition, 133 players were added as an alternate. That’s roughly 7.84 percent of the NFL.
Players seem to genuinely want to be there for the NBA; it’s rare to see a player decline an invitation, except for injury.
For baseball, the extra incentive comes off to many as more frustrating than exciting. In comparison to the MLB All-Star Game, however, results of NBA game don't matter so the players are more lighthearted and fun rather than feigning as ultra-competitive.
But that doesn’t mean the basketball stars aren’t trying. In 2015 Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook recorded 41 points. Clippers point guard Chris Paul dropped 15 assists. Cleveland’s LeBron James added 30 points for the Eastern Conference.
Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj performed the NBA’s All-Star Game halftime show in Brooklyn. Queen Latifah performed the National anthem. By all accounts, it was an All-Star cast.
In what other sport do you get to watch one of the game's top stars jump over cars while a gospel choir sings R. Kelly, like Blake Griffin did in 2011?
If that doesn't do anything for you (after all, a Kia isn't that tall), in what other sport's All-Star Game can you watch comedian Kevin Hart compete against TV star Nick Cannon? The dunk contest, the 3-point contest and the celebrity game all offer an experience unique specifically to the NBA's All-Star Weekend.
While television ratings may be low, it’s certainly a hot commodity to get into the events of the weekend. FOX Sports spoke with Vivid Seats on Friday; they offered median prices for each event of the weekend on their website.
According to the report, the median price for tickets to Sunday’s All-Star Game was $1,378. The 3-point contest and slam dunk contest on Saturday had a median price of a whopping $850. The celebrity game had a median price of $184. Even the NBA All-Star practice had a median price of a surprisingly high $165.
Forbes.com reports, however, that the average resale price for the actual game is now $2,116.19.
This weekend, with the NBA All-Star Game in town, Toronto is officially the place to be. Just ask pop icon Drake, who will receive a key to the city during All-Star Weekend.
Drake • Kevin Hart • LeBron James #asw2016 pic.twitter.com/k7sboxpHPq
— REVOLT TV (@RevoltTV) February 12, 2016
Drake was also seen with basketball star LeBron James and comedian Kevin Hart at the Beats by Dre dinner on Thursday night. That’s just the kind of weekend that the All-Star Game brings to a city.
Bryan Kalbrosky produces digital content for FOXSports.com. For more, follow him on Twitter @BryanKalbrosky
