Basketball Twitter has been in an uproar ever since the first returns of the All-Star voting. Many tweeps have lamented the fact that Kobe Bryant is the leading vote-getter (by a landslide), as it leaves the possibility of a more “deserving” player to miss the cut. Although his play has been miserable for most of the season, Bryant is worthy of a starting spot in an exhibition game that was created to entertain NBA fans (you know, the ones who obviously want to see him play).
Since it’s up to the fans to decide who gets be an All-Star starter and not basketball pundits, the All-Star Game is (at least partially) a popularity contest. Since the coaches vote for the reserves, that part of the voting doesn’t have much to do with popularity. Further, the NBA’s most influential and entertaining athletes have the power to pique the interest of people from across the United States (and in Kobe’s case, across the globe). NBA Commissioner Adam Silver recently talked about Kobe’s global fanbase:
“I hope to see him there,” Silver said in an interview with SiriusXM NBA Radio. “I think he deserves to be there. He’s going to retire as one of the NBA’s greatest players. Even beyond his play on the floor, he’s played as great a role as anyone in the international expansion of the game. Right now, I’d say in China there’s still Kobe and [then there’s] everyone else. I think because he was such a hit there when he was there with the national team for the Beijing Olympics, and I know he’s made so many trips to China over the course of his career in the NBA. And I think the same thing in India and Africa and Latin America and, of course, Europe, where he grew up.”
Though he isn’t always a willing passer on the court, Bryant has facilitated the NBA’s expansion overseas, and the vast amount of revenue the LA star has and continues to generate for the Lakers (and the NBA as a whole) is a byproduct of his universal fame. A player’s value comes not just from his play on the court, but by his ability to put butts in the seats. And, Despite Bryant’s play on the court, the All-Star voting suggests that Bryant’s star appeal eclipses that of the best players in the league today, and it continues to profit the NBA from an entertainment and revenue standpoint — which is what the league is all about.
Nonetheless, players can earn bonuses for starting in the All-Star Game, and it seems unfair for the statistically deserving players to lose money because neither the fans nor the coaches voted them in. However, the All-Star game is an exhibition that isn’t solely based on productivity on the court. The NBA’s best entertainers and most popular players entice fans to tune in on TV and spend money on merchandise, which keeps the NBA running. The bottom line matters, and the marquee players that draw revenue and fan interest should be rewarded.
Now, that isn’t to say that any mediocre basketball player can make the All-Star team based solely on entertainment. Not just anyone can attract Kobe’s global following. Even after the flurry in New York known as Linsanity, Jeremy Lin never garnered enough votes to become an All-Star.
Hypothetically speaking, if there ever were an average NBA player who received enough votes to start the All-Star Game, it’d mean he’s electrifying crowds with nifty crossovers and highlight reel dunks every time he steps on the basketball court. Fans would clearly want to see this hypothetical athlete play, and he’d deserve to be in the All-Star Game if voted in, but it’s a nearly impossible scenario. Only once-in-a-generation players like Kobe can feasibly achieve worldwide eminence.
Under the bright lights of Los Angeles, Bryant almost invariably put on a show with his fiery competitiveness and electrifying scoring displays during his prime. He leveraged his impeccable footwork to hit impossible fadeaways with multiple defenders draped around him and won five championships playing that way. Thus, Mr. Bean is arguably the best tough shot-maker the game has ever seen. Of course, he’s no longer capable of such heroics, but the fans don’t seem to mind. Tickets are sold out every time Kobe’s Lakers are on the road — and the owners are basking in the proceeds.
Fans are appreciative of Bryant’s career and are willing to break the bank just to seem him play one last time. Even against the Lakers’ most hated rival, Celtics fans bestowed Bryant with chants of “MVP” in Boston. The All-Star Game is intended to cater to the fan’s interests, thus rendering it illogical to bicker about the results of the fan vote. It makes little sense to deprive consumers of the player(s) they voted for and paid to see.
Furthermore, while many put too much merit into an exhibition game, the All-NBA teams reward players based on productivity rather than popularity. Since there’s no fan vote or entertainment factor, the All-NBA teams are a better indicator of basketball ability, and the pundits will rightfully leave Bryant’s name off all three All-NBA teams.
Though Bryant’s athleticism and basketball skills have waned, his marketability and star appeal to this day remains as potent as ever. Besides, how fun would it be if he were to win All-Star MVP?