The 2023 All-Star game is in the books with Team Giannis coming away with a 184-175 win over Team LeBron in Utah. It wrapped up what was a fun weekend for the league, and the Philadelphia 76ers were represented on all three nights of the weekend.
However, the All-Star game itself wasn’t the best game to watch. While obviously a glorified pickup game and it’s more about entertainment for the fans, some effort would have been nice.
Guys were walking to the rim for layups and dunks while some were just launching from half-court, and that isn’t the most aesthetically pleasing thing to watch. At least try to act like there is some effort out there.
Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone, who coached Team LeBron in the game, was very critical of the contest, but he gave Sixers star Joel Embiid some credit for at least trying in the game.
Malone told reporters via Justin Grasso of Sports Illustrated:
“It’s an honor to be here to be a part of a great weekend, great players, but that is the worst basketball game ever played,” said Malone. “I don’t know if you can fix it. I mean, I give Joel Embiid, Kyrie Irving, those guys were like competing. Joel was imploring some of the guys to play harder and to try to get some defense in. No one got hurt, put on a show for the fans, but that was a tough game to sit through. I’m not gonna lie.”
Embiid had 32 points with seven rebounds, a steal and a block for Team LeBron.
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