Does the NBA All-Star Game matter: Are All-Star Game Stats Counted in Player’s Achievements?

Since NBA started its annual exhibition game featuring a combined 24 stars from both the conference back in 1951, a couple of questions always trouble some fans, “does the NBA All-Star Game matter?”, and “do All-Star Game stats count?”.

Well, the players who work all their childhood and then adulthood to become an All-Star would surely tell you it matters, as most of them don’t even make one All-Star team throughout their careers.

Let’s dive in and get the answers for both.

Also read: Will the NBA All Star Draft be televised?

Does the All-Star Game matter? All about All-Star Game stats and player achievements

As we just said, All-Star Game is just an annual exhibition game. This game is organized by the NBA as a fun event between the 24 best players in the league from both — the Eastern and Western conferences (12 from each).

These players do have the inspiration to be the best among the best but none of them puts all-in effort into winning an All-Star game MVP award, except for maybe, Kobe Bryant earlier and Giannis Antetokounmpo these days.

Although to be selected as an All-Star is one of the biggest honors for a player, how much they average in their career All-Star appearances is of slight importance. Even, not getting selected as a starter doesn’t reflect on anybody’s resume, neither in NBA.com nor in Basketball Reference.

Apart from the honor of being remembered as an n-time All-Star, there’s no particular weightage for an All-Star selection or playing in the All-Star game. All-Star Game MVP can also be seen in one’s resume.

So, there’s that one thing that matters in an All-Star game.

Also read: Why NBA Players Don’t Play Defense In The All Star Game

The changes in this year’s All-Star event

Over the past few years, the format of this game has changed, and currently, it’s not an East vs West match-up anymore. Although the selection criteria of the 24 players remain somewhat the same.

The list of each conference’s top-5 vote-getters (3 forwards, 2 guards) gets out the first cumulative of players, fans, and media votes. The top vote-getters from each would select the players from either conference to play in their teams on the game day.

I, personally, enjoyed the All-Star event when it used to be East vs. West. Despite the lack of effort by the players on defense, it used to be a little competitive.

Also read: NBA All-Star Snubs: Who Are 2023 Salt Lake City NBA All Star Game’s Biggest Snubs From Starting Berths?

About the author

Akash Murty

An Electrical and Electronics Engineer by degree, Akash Murty is an NBA Editor at The SportsRush. Previously a Software Engineer, Murty couldn’t keep himself away from sports, and his knack for writing and putting his opinion forward brought him to the TSR. A big Soccer enthusiast, his interest in basketball developed late, as he got access to a hoop for the first time at 17. Following this, he started watching basketball at the 2012 Olympics, which transitioned to NBA, and he became a fan of the game as he watched LeBron James dominate the league. Him being an avid learner of the game and ritually following the league for around a decade, he now writes articles ranging from throwbacks, and live game reports, to gossip. LA Lakers are his favourite basketball team, while Chelsea has his heart in football. He also likes travelling, reading fiction, and sometimes cooking.

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