The recent NBA All-Star Game has raised concerns regarding its entertainment value, especially with hard data to back it up. A post on Reddit revealed that only 42 minutes of actual basketball were played during TNT’s three-hour broadcast on Sunday night. In stark contrast, the broadcast included 80 minutes of commercials and 88 minutes of additional content, including TNT’s pre and postgame commentary as well as a Mr. Beast challenge.
The tournament was an excellent format, and TNT and the NBA ruined it pic.twitter.com/2dycn2kxRz
— Cameron Tabatabaie (@CTabatabaie) February 17, 2025
This lack of engagement highlights the issues with what many consider to be one of the worst All-Star Games ever. The new four-team bracket-style competition played to 40 points significantly reduced actual game time compared to past formats. Previously, the traditional 12-minute quarters guaranteed at least 48 minutes of play, often extending to an hour with stoppages. The revised format led to considerable downtime, allowing TNT space to discuss Inside the NBA, even with its continuation next season, and let Draymond Green and Charles Barkley debate the game’s shortcomings.
There appears to be no simple solution for the NBA’s dilemma. Unless players genuinely commit, akin to the NHL’s approach, this negative cycle will persist annually until the league either abolishes the All-Star Game or develops a viable format. Ultimately, it’s clear that viewership will decline significantly if only 42 minutes of actual basketball are offered in a three-hour broadcast.
