Knicks Receive Massive Giannis Antetokounmpo Update
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The New York Knicks appear to be one of the top contenders in the Eastern Conference heading into the 2025-26 NBA season.
With the Indiana Pacers dealing with a season-ending injury to Tyrese Haliburton and the Boston Celtics waiting on Jayson Tatum to recovery from his torn Achilles, the Knicks are in a great position. After making a run to the Eastern Conference Finals last season and losing to the Pacers, they could be the favorite.
During the offseason, New York made a big move. It decided to part ways with former head coach Tom Thibodeau and replace him with Mike Brown.
Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks looks on against the Golden State Warriors during the first half of an NBA basketball game at Chase Center on March 18, 2025 in San Francisco, California.
Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks looks on against the Golden State Warriors during the first half of an NBA basketball game at Chase Center on March 18, 2025 in San Francisco, California.
Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images
As far as roster additions, the Knicks went out in NBA free agency and signed both Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele to improve their bench.
Read more: Bucks Receive Worrying Giannis Antetokounmpo Update
Both of those moves will add quality depth for New York's second unit. However, the team has its eyes set on a much bigger fish.
Of course, that fish is current Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Over the last year, the Knicks have been constantly mentioned as a potential suitor for Antetokounmpo if he chooses to leave the Bucks. That possibility is still very much alive.
On Monday, ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania reported that Antetokounmpo has not decided whether or not he'll stay in Milwaukee.
"Sources tell me there's still nothing set in stone about whether Giannis Antetokounmpo will stay in Milwaukee or whether he will be leaving," Charania said.
Following that report, a new update was given on New York's interest in the "Greek Freak." That update was shared by James L. Edwards III of The Athletic.
"It is my understanding that Leon Rose and company have been monitoring Giannis Antetokounmpo's situation in Milwaukee very closely, even before the offseason started," Edwards wrote. "Many around the league believe the Knicks are interested in star hunting, and while that opportunity hasn't popped up yet, I certainly believe it's in the cards if the right situation presents itself."
Read more: Dan Patrick Goes Off on Lakers' Bronny James for Odd Reason
If Antetokounmpo does decide that he wants a fresh start away from the Bucks, the Knicks would instantly be a top contender to trade for him. They would have to give up a lot to get him, but he could lead New York back to the NBA Finals.
Expect to continue hearing rumors and reports about Antetokounmpo's future. In the meantime, the Knicks will continue watching the situation closely and waiting to pounce if he decides he wants out.
For more on the New York Knicks and general NBA news, head on over to Newsweek Sports.
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Yahoo
14 minutes ago
- Yahoo
How can we restore the joy to the NBA All-Star Game? The WNBA showed the way
When's the last time you had fun watching an NBA All-Star game? A league's All-Star Game is a marquee event and should be one filled with hype and excitement. But in recent years, the conversation around the NBA's All-Star festivities has been about what needs changing to make it more interesting. The WNBA, however, is seeing record viewership and attendance. Growing enthusiasm around the W has made its All-Star events a hot topic on social media. The NBA All-Star Game of today is about the three Rs: rest, recovery and ramping up for the playoffs. But NBA players could take one specific note from the W: This year's WNBA All-Star Weekend turned into a celebration of its players, fans and culture. With more people watching, WNBA players also used the opportunity to advocate for their collective bargaining discussions with T-shirts that read 'Pay us what you owe us' during pregame. Sharing the joy of playing basketball should be a layup. The NBA will soon play its 80th season, and we are now experiencing a shift in the game with more international players, as well as what looks like a changing of the guard with players such as LeBron James, Steph Curry and Kevin Durant being late in their careers. Seeing the veterans and younger players tell their stories with basketball as the background would offer a nice change of pace. Learning what niche or random interest or hobby players have would help highlight who they are for casual fans unable to recite the information typically found on the back of a trading card. This season, the WNBA added hockey-like live-ball substitutions and the 4-point line to make things more interesting. The game itself wasn't highly competitive (or featured much defense) as Team Collier blew out Team Clark 151-131. But the hype wasn't around the game or skills challenges. Fans seemed to understand it was an exhibition, and players weren't going to play super hard in a game that didn't count. Instead, the enjoyment came from the excitement of players and the weekend itself, helped in part by the popularity of the 72-hour StudBudz livestream. The StudBudz, run by Minnesota Lynx players and close friends Courtney Williams and Natisha Hiedeman, gave WNBA fans a rare glimpse into players' off-court lives, sharing behind-the-scenes looks at their experiences during their All-Star weekend. It was the kind of access traditional media doesn't have. Fans on social media were sharing clips of every ounce of access they could get. With the use of livestreams, WNBA players were able to give fans at home an unprecedented peek behind the curtain. At the WNBA All-Star Game, players mingled and integrated themselves in many events like merchandise pop-ups, panels and parties with the fans. They signed everything. They showed up for their fans and, in some cases, allowed them to get close to them. Players, alumni and fans connected in a way we don't normally get to see, but it has become common for the W. That's what All-Star Weekend should be about: sharing that joy and making the players accessible and relatable, allowing fans to connect beyond a player's on-court performance. '(WNBA) players have a clear understanding that this particular weekend is about the fans,' Connecticut Sun sideline reporter Terrika Foster-Brasby said. 'You obviously want to protect your players, and you want to ensure that your players have security and that you know there aren't random people doing and saying crazy things. 'But there is a level of accessibility that you have with women in the WNBA that you don't have with men in the NBA. I think that kind of creates this vision that the NBA players are sort of untouchable, or that they are unapproachable.' While that might not be so easy to do with NBA players, humanizing players is one of the things making the WNBA different from other leagues. Seeing players laughing, dancing and having fun with one another reminds fans these aren't just athletes who accomplish incredible things on the court, but multidimensional people — something we don't see much of at the NBA All-Star Game. Seeing coaches and even commissioner Cathy Engelbert interact with fans adds to the WNBA's charm. At the NBA All-Star Game, players look as if it's a chore to be there. During the 2025 Skills Challenge, Team Spurs, composed of veteran Chris Paul and French basketball prodigy Victor Wembanyama, intentionally missed their shots to try to cut down on their time and move on to the next obstacle. The drill consisted of a variety of passes before the players reached a rack of balls to shoot. Paul and Wembanyama weren't even trying to connect on their shot attempts. The crowd, aware of the gamesmanship on display, rained boos on Paul. The duo was disqualified for not taking valid shots. While Paul and Wembanyama thought this strategy would benefit them, it was a joyless moment for the fans. Seeing one of the greatest point guards of all time and a 7-4 big man show the same skills would not only have had the crowd rocking and given them something to cheer for, but also have been a great example of how NBA players' skills have evolved. This year's NBA All-Star Game included a new tournament-like format, and the reception from fans was mixed. The frequent discussion of format changes around the NBA's game has shown that ship's probably sailed in terms of legislating the fun and excitement back into the event. Changing the rules and adding gimmicks hasn't yet seemed to make the All-Star Game more interesting to fans or players. Fans know they're watching a game that doesn't count, but they still want to see their favorites putting on a show. While there was a complete lack of defense in the women's game, they looked as if they enjoyed being there. The celebratory feel of the WNBA's All-Star Weekend shone through the players. Even with several tweaks to the format throughout the last few years, the moments of joy have been fleeting recently at the NBA All-Star Weekend. The players selected for the All-Star Game are already the league's elite, so what incentive can motivate them to play any harder? 'I think the players want to be viewed as regular guys, as regular human beings having fun, hanging out with my friends and my guys. I don't think the league always puts them in the best position to give them that human aspect,' Foster-Brasby said. 'You can see it even at W All-Star, because a lot of times NBA players are there, and they don't necessarily have that guarded view during WNBA All-Star that they have during NBA All-Star. You can see it feels like they're a little bit more relaxed, and they feel a little bit more comfortable within that space.' Maybe instead of new rules, the NBA needs to make the weekend more player and fan-focused. The NBA has open practices on All-Star Saturday, but there is always room for more fan engagement. The WNBA community has its groups and cliques among the fan base, and they're close-knit. Access and connectivity to the players have organically created a growing interest in the league and the players as individuals. All-Star Weekend highlighted that in a way we'd never seen before. 'I think proximity and authenticity is the name of the game,' said Khristina Williams, host 'In Case You Missed It,' a women's basketball podcast. 'WNBA players are digital natives. Utilizing social media … that type of technology is always going to hit for women's sports or women's basketball, because for years and years none of their stuff was available. They've capitalized on building their brands through connecting with their fans.' The NBA All-Star break was extended during the 2013-14 season from five days to seven to allow players more time to rest, but the break isn't the true midpoint of the season, as teams head into the break having played more than 50 games. Understandably, players don't want to risk injury in a game that doesn't count. But when players appear as if they don't care about participating in the events, it's neither fun nor entertaining. When Major League Baseball held the first All-Star Game on July 6, 1933, at Comiskey Park in Chicago ('the Game of the Century,' according to the Chicago Tribune) to coincide with the 1933 World's Fair, the intention was a celebration of the sport and an opportunity to showcase baseball's top talent and their skills. The NBA held its first All-Star Game at Boston Garden on March 2, 1951. A crowd of more than 10,000 packed the arena to see the league's best. Inaugural All-Star MVP 'Easy' Ed Macauley of the Boston Celtics finished with 20 points on 7-for-12 shooting as the East defeated the West 111-94. Like MLB, the game became a fan favorite. But it's not easy for any league to host an All-Star Game. Times have changed. Before interleague play, it was rare for American League fans to see National League players and vice versa. In the NBA, it was rare for someone in Cleveland to see the Denver Nuggets or the Portland Trail Blazers. All-Star games were the places to see the best in one spot. Now, with NBA League Pass and MLB Extra Innings, we can see any player at any time. The NFL and NHL have also recently changed their formats as leagues are constantly trying things to infuse new life into their midseason break. MLB's All-Star Game has seen its popularity diminished because superstars don't play the majority of the game and many starters leave before it ends. This year's Midsummer Classic ended in a tie after nine innings, so it led to the first All-Star swing-off. Despite the lack of starters like Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani, the mini-home run derby went over well and brought some of the joy back to the event. If the NBA wants to infuse some enthusiasm into the events, the WNBA just gave them a great playbook to follow and make their own. Players should see All-Star Weekend as an opportunity to take off their cool and let people see who they are, honor the history of the game and celebrate with the fans. This article originally appeared in The Athletic. NBA, WNBA, Culture 2025 The Athletic Media Company
New York Times
19 minutes ago
- New York Times
Meet teenage phenom EvanTheArtist, cleat customizer to MLB superstars
After his batting practice at Citi Field one day in early June, Starling Marte headed toward the warning track. He usually comes over to greet fans who are waiting for autographs and photos. This time, he spotted a familiar face in the crowd. Evan Taveras, known on social media as EvanTheArtist, smiled and dapped up Marte. In his hands, the 15-year-old held a custom pair of cleats for the outfielder, which were decorated with paintings of the Dominican Republic flag and Goku from the popular anime 'Dragon Ball Z.' Written on the back of the shoe was 'All-Star dad.' Advertisement This was not the first time Taveras had given Marte custom artwork. The two first met back in 2022, when Taveras, then a fan, gifted Marte a portrait he made of the two-time All-Star. This time, Major League Baseball had commissioned Taveras to paint those cleats for Marte as a Father's Day gift. Though he began creating custom works just a few years ago, Tevaras' reputation as an artist has spread quickly throughout the sports and sneaker world. The young Long Islander has decked out shoes and other apparel for athletes such as Marte, Jazz Chisholm Jr. and pro boxer Amanda Serrano while also collaborating with brands like Foot Locker and organizations like the Make-A-Wish Foundation. 'I never thought that it would get this big,' Taveras said, 'and I'm super honored to have these opportunities to work with these big athletes and have them showcase my work.' Primarily self-taught, Taveras' work ranges from realistic portraits of athletes and their families to pop culture references expressed with a rich color palette. Taveras has been drawing for as long as he can remember. He trained himself and learned his own style by studying YouTube artists like ZHC and Marko, two of his earliest inspirations. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, his best friend wanted a custom pair of sneakers. But at the time, he had never worked on a canvas quite like a shoe. 'If you mess those up, that's on you,' Evan's mother and manager, Melissa Taveras, told him when he asked for a brand new pair of sneakers. However, Melissa's skepticism soon disappeared once she saw the results. The customized Nike Air Max sneakers that her then-9-year-old son created with markers garnered attention after the family posted photos on social media. Before long, many people were inquiring about how to get their own pair, and Melissa had to create a waitlist. 'That's when I realized this could be really big,' Evan said, 'and I could do so much more if I really wanted to.' Taveras, now equipped with paint and other tools, began to grow in popularity online. And before long, he developed a work routine that would serve him for years. It starts with the request from the customer. They'd tell Taveras the shoe they want customized, their shoe size, and what type of designs they want on it. Taveras would then purchase the shoes. Once they arrived, he'd begin the preparation process of cleaning, sanding, sketching and painting. Advertisement Once he's done, he uses a final coating of sealant to give the shoes a premium, factory-like finish. In all, the process takes anywhere from two to four weeks to complete. He does this all at his workstation, which is located in a den that overlooks the family's backyard. On the right side of his desk are various knickknacks and collectibles representative of his passions and culture: A baseball helmet with a Puerto Rican flag to represent his heritage, a Bob Ross Funko Pop, a Mets trivia book. Furthest to the right lies a daily inspiration. A poster board filled with photos of some of his biggest moments and favorite designs he's made over his career. It is a reminder of how far he's come, but it is also a constant motivator for Taveras. His craftsmanship and skill eventually caught the eye of Kids Foot Locker. The American footwear retailer contracted Taveras for a holiday collaboration to create shoes that would be the prize for giveaways. The partnership gave Taveras a nationwide stage to display his talents as a pre-teen. Then, MLB came calling. In 2022, Taveras was invited to Los Angeles for MLB All-Star Week to paint cleats as part of an exhibition at the 'Play Ball Park' event. He's been invited back to every All-Star Week since. A year after his first ASW appearance, Taveras received his first commission for custom cleats from a player — a pair for former MLB pitcher Adonis Medina that included portraits of his two children. Later on, Tavares made cleats for Pete Alonso, his favorite Met. During Alonso's first at-bat in the cleats, he went yard. One of Taveras' biggest opportunities came through an Instagram story by Chisholm. The Yankees' second baseman tagged Taveras after seeing his work and wanted to collaborate with him. Chisholm was looking for custom cleats leading up to the 2024 postseason to go alongside his gear. Taveras delivered. Advertisement 'It just perfectly matched everything,' Chisholm said. 'I didn't even think anybody would have even been able to do that with just the stuff that he works with.' Taveras has since become Chisholm's go-to guy for custom cleats. To start the season, Chisholm debuted a pair inspired by the popular anime 'One Piece.' The cleats went viral on social media. While Taveras loves creating art and the process behind it, one of his biggest motivations is being able to give back to those in need. The philanthropy stems from his love for his 13-year-old brother, Max, who has cerebral palsy, and serves as one of his life's inspirations. Every March for the last five years, Taveras has hosted a fundraiser where he paints a custom pair of shoes for a raffle. The money raised is used to pay for children with cerebral palsy to get intensive therapy that they otherwise would not be able to afford. Just this year alone, the fundraiser helped to provide $10,000 worth of treatment for children at a facility in Long Island. Taveras has also painted shoes for an auction for the Jazz Chisholm Foundation. The proceeds went to support children in underserved communities with a passion for baseball. Despite his success at such a young age, when he's at school, he's not EvanTheArtist, he's just Evan. Even his art teacher didn't know that he was customizing shoes for some of the biggest names in sports. Still, word gets out about his talents, particularly through his friends. When his travel ball team found out, his teammates started telling the opposing squad that they had a celebrity on their team. And Taveras' teammates often request their own set of customized kicks. 'You gotta get in contact with my mom,' he tells them. While Taveras has accomplished a lot in his young career, he isn't satisfied yet. He dreams of growing his following and expanding his business. That means getting bigger names on his waitlist. (The ultimate dream, however, is to one day suit up for the Mets.) But while he's working on his dreams, he is also making time to help inspire the next generation. Near the end of the school year at P.S. 376 in Brooklyn, the school hosts a career day for the kids inside the gymnasium. In the room are teachers, firefighters and police officers, among many other professions, who are stationed to provide insight into their day-to-day work. As students filter in, they gravitate toward the jobs that they had envisioned themselves in and thought were the most exciting. Advertisement All the way in the furthest corner of the gym of this year's event was Taveras, who had graduated from the elementary school just a few years earlier. On his table were cleats he customized from All-Star Games and other events. Toward the left end of the table was the posterboard of his achievements he keeps at his workstation. Before he knew it, he was swarmed by curious students as he gave a live demonstration painting a cleat. They asked questions, watched with intent, and some even got the chance to add a few strokes of paint with Taveras' guidance. The day represented a full-circle moment for the young artist. Outside of those he followed on YouTube, he didn't have anyone he looked up to who was readily accessible to him growing up, let alone someone so close in age. He was able to not only show the students his art but also be a real-life example of where art can take them. Taveras has been able to attend some of the biggest events in sports, speak with all-world athletes and fundraise for those in need, all because of his artistic talent. But what has been most fulfilling and surprising to him was the reaction the students had to his work at that career day. 'I never thought I would be inspiring other kids,' Taveras said. '(They) loved the work, and they said they wanted to be like me when they grew up.' (Top photo courtesy of Melissa Taveras) Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
How can we restore the joy to the NBA All-Star Game? The WNBA showed the way
When's the last time you had fun watching an NBA All-Star game? A league's All-Star Game is a marquee event and should be one filled with hype and excitement. But in recent years, the conversation around the NBA's All-Star festivities has been about what needs changing to make it more interesting. The WNBA, however, is seeing record viewership and attendance. Growing enthusiasm around the W has made its All-Star events a hot topic on social media. Advertisement The NBA All-Star Game of today is about the three Rs: rest, recovery and ramping up for the playoffs. But NBA players could take one specific note from the W: This year's WNBA All-Star Weekend turned into a celebration of its players, fans and culture. With more people watching, WNBA players also used the opportunity to advocate for their collective bargaining discussions with T-shirts that read 'Pay us what you owe us' during pregame. Players are currently wearing shirts that say 'PAY US WHAT YOU OWE US' ahead of this year's WNBA All-Star game. Powerful. @TheNextHoops — Deyscha 'Sway' Smith (@deyschasmith) July 20, 2025 Sharing the joy of playing basketball should be a layup. The NBA will soon play its 80th season, and we are now experiencing a shift in the game with more international players, as well as what looks like a changing of the guard with players such as LeBron James, Steph Curry and Kevin Durant being late in their careers. Seeing the veterans and younger players tell their stories with basketball as the background would offer a nice change of pace. Learning what niche or random interest or hobby players have would help highlight who they are for casual fans unable to recite the information typically found on the back of a trading card. This season, the WNBA added hockey-like live-ball substitutions and the 4-point line to make things more interesting. The game itself wasn't highly competitive (or featured much defense) as Team Collier blew out Team Clark 151-131. But the hype wasn't around the game or skills challenges. Fans seemed to understand it was an exhibition, and players weren't going to play super hard in a game that didn't count. Instead, the enjoyment came from the excitement of players and the weekend itself, helped in part by the popularity of the 72-hour StudBudz livestream. The StudBudz, run by Minnesota Lynx players and close friends Courtney Williams and Natisha Hiedeman, gave WNBA fans a rare glimpse into players' off-court lives, sharing behind-the-scenes looks at their experiences during their All-Star weekend. It was the kind of access traditional media doesn't have. Fans on social media were sharing clips of every ounce of access they could get. With the use of livestreams, WNBA players were able to give fans at home an unprecedented peek behind the curtain. Studbudz 72 hour stream has somehow revolutionized sports content the wnba and all star weekend and also threatened the very fabric of professional sports all at the same time lmao Love it — Eddie Gonzalez (@bansky) July 19, 2025 At the WNBA All-Star Game, players mingled and integrated themselves in many events like merchandise pop-ups, panels and parties with the fans. They signed everything. They showed up for their fans and, in some cases, allowed them to get close to them. Players, alumni and fans connected in a way we don't normally get to see, but it has become common for the W. Advertisement That's what All-Star Weekend should be about: sharing that joy and making the players accessible and relatable, allowing fans to connect beyond a player's on-court performance. '(WNBA) players have a clear understanding that this particular weekend is about the fans,' Connecticut Sun sideline reporter Terrika Foster-Brasby said. 'You obviously want to protect your players, and you want to ensure that your players have security and that you know there aren't random people doing and saying crazy things. 'But there is a level of accessibility that you have with women in the WNBA that you don't have with men in the NBA. I think that kind of creates this vision that the NBA players are sort of untouchable, or that they are unapproachable.' While that might not be so easy to do with NBA players, humanizing players is one of the things making the WNBA different from other leagues. Seeing players laughing, dancing and having fun with one another reminds fans these aren't just athletes who accomplish incredible things on the court, but multidimensional people — something we don't see much of at the NBA All-Star Game. Seeing coaches and even commissioner Cathy Engelbert interact with fans adds to the WNBA's charm. At the NBA All-Star Game, players look as if it's a chore to be there. During the 2025 Skills Challenge, Team Spurs, composed of veteran Chris Paul and French basketball prodigy Victor Wembanyama, intentionally missed their shots to try to cut down on their time and move on to the next obstacle. The drill consisted of a variety of passes before the players reached a rack of balls to shoot. Paul and Wembanyama weren't even trying to connect on their shot attempts. The crowd, aware of the gamesmanship on display, rained boos on Paul. The duo was disqualified for not taking valid shots. Advertisement While Paul and Wembanyama thought this strategy would benefit them, it was a joyless moment for the fans. Seeing one of the greatest point guards of all time and a 7-4 big man show the same skills would not only have had the crowd rocking and given them something to cheer for, but also have been a great example of how NBA players' skills have evolved. This year's NBA All-Star Game included a new tournament-like format, and the reception from fans was mixed. The frequent discussion of format changes around the NBA's game has shown that ship's probably sailed in terms of legislating the fun and excitement back into the event. Changing the rules and adding gimmicks hasn't yet seemed to make the All-Star Game more interesting to fans or players. Fans know they're watching a game that doesn't count, but they still want to see their favorites putting on a show. While there was a complete lack of defense in the women's game, they looked as if they enjoyed being there. The celebratory feel of the WNBA's All-Star Weekend shone through the players. Even with several tweaks to the format throughout the last few years, the moments of joy have been fleeting recently at the NBA All-Star Weekend. The players selected for the All-Star Game are already the league's elite, so what incentive can motivate them to play any harder? 'I think the players want to be viewed as regular guys, as regular human beings having fun, hanging out with my friends and my guys. I don't think the league always puts them in the best position to give them that human aspect,' Foster-Brasby said. 'You can see it even at W All-Star, because a lot of times NBA players are there, and they don't necessarily have that guarded view during WNBA All-Star that they have during NBA All-Star. You can see it feels like they're a little bit more relaxed, and they feel a little bit more comfortable within that space.' Maybe instead of new rules, the NBA needs to make the weekend more player and fan-focused. The NBA has open practices on All-Star Saturday, but there is always room for more fan engagement. The WNBA community has its groups and cliques among the fan base, and they're close-knit. Access and connectivity to the players have organically created a growing interest in the league and the players as individuals. All-Star Weekend highlighted that in a way we'd never seen before. Advertisement 'I think proximity and authenticity is the name of the game,' said Khristina Williams, host 'In Case You Missed It,' a women's basketball podcast. 'WNBA players are digital natives. Utilizing social media … that type of technology is always going to hit for women's sports or women's basketball, because for years and years none of their stuff was available. They've capitalized on building their brands through connecting with their fans.' The NBA All-Star break was extended during the 2013-14 season from five days to seven to allow players more time to rest, but the break isn't the true midpoint of the season, as teams head into the break having played more than 50 games. Understandably, players don't want to risk injury in a game that doesn't count. But when players appear as if they don't care about participating in the events, it's neither fun nor entertaining. When Major League Baseball held the first All-Star Game on July 6, 1933, at Comiskey Park in Chicago ('the Game of the Century,' according to the Chicago Tribune) to coincide with the 1933 World's Fair, the intention was a celebration of the sport and an opportunity to showcase baseball's top talent and their skills. The NBA held its first All-Star Game at Boston Garden on March 2, 1951. A crowd of more than 10,000 packed the arena to see the league's best. Inaugural All-Star MVP 'Easy' Ed Macauley of the Boston Celtics finished with 20 points on 7-for-12 shooting as the East defeated the West 111-94. Like MLB, the game became a fan favorite. But it's not easy for any league to host an All-Star Game. Times have changed. Before interleague play, it was rare for American League fans to see National League players and vice versa. In the NBA, it was rare for someone in Cleveland to see the Denver Nuggets or the Portland Trail Blazers. All-Star games were the places to see the best in one spot. Now, with NBA League Pass and MLB Extra Innings, we can see any player at any time. The NFL and NHL have also recently changed their formats as leagues are constantly trying things to infuse new life into their midseason break. MLB's All-Star Game has seen its popularity diminished because superstars don't play the majority of the game and many starters leave before it ends. This year's Midsummer Classic ended in a tie after nine innings, so it led to the first All-Star swing-off. Despite the lack of starters like Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani, the mini-home run derby went over well and brought some of the joy back to the event. If the NBA wants to infuse some enthusiasm into the events, the WNBA just gave them a great playbook to follow and make their own. Players should see All-Star Weekend as an opportunity to take off their cool and let people see who they are, honor the history of the game and celebrate with the fans. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
