Trae Young: Donovan Mitchell Suggested Emcee To Improve All-Star Game

NBA fans have 211 reasons not to like this year’s All-Star Game in Indianapolis. That’s how many points were scored by the Eastern Conference — and the blowback from fans, media and former players was quick and harsh.

Actually, guys who were playing the game knew that it lacked anything resembling competitiveness. Some went as far as to make suggestions on how to make things a little more intense.

While nobody wants All-Stars to get injured or overly exert themselves, the game ended up being little more than a 3-point and dunk contest with teammates. It looked almost nothing like basketball.

So, yes, the players discussed ways to make it better.

One of those players was Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell, who watched things unfold from the bench. Per Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young, Mitchell suggested an emcee on the court — much like they use at pro-am events like Rucker Park — to help make things a little more intense.

“We were talking about it on the bench,” Young told Rachel Nichols of Showtime.”It was Donovan’s idea. He talked about maybe having an emcee, like it is in New York, walking on the court (and hyping up the plays). Maybe that could make it a little more competitive.”

Without a doubt, ideas will be floated in the league office for next year’s game in San Francisco.

“I mean, it’s hard because guys’ focus is on their team and making sure that they stay healthy,” Young said. “We don’t want to hurt each other when they’re playing (in the All-Star Game).

“But I think something like that could make it more prideful and make everybody be a little more competitive.”

The East won the game by a 211-186 count, the highest-scoring All-Star Game in history. But some will tell you it wasn’t a game at all.

Several league sources told Hoops Wire that those in NBA headquarters intend to revisit how to make it a bit more competitive during the offseason. That may include financial incentives or a change to the rules, specifically for the All-Star Game, sources said.

The NBA intends to keep the East vs. West format that it used again this season.

The lack of competition during the All-Star Game was glaring enough Trae Young tells me players were talking about it on the bench – and that Donovan Mitchell made a suggestion in real time… pic.twitter.com/onv5QOPSCm

— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) February 20, 2024