Every season the National Basketball Association gives a certain city a chance to host the All-Star Weekend. From the All-Star Slam Dunk Contest to the main event: the NBA All-Star game. The best players in America according to the media and fans come together and play against in their respective East or West conference. However, in the recent past all-star games, people begin to see the game as an exhibition rather than a competition. NBA legends like Reggie Miller expressed his unhappiness about the all-star game but this year was different and saved the event.

Unlike the past the NBA made a player match-up, instead of dividing the players into East and West teams, two captains were nominated. Team Lebron vs Team Curry and the players would have to pick the players who were voted to participate in the game. After that, they play at Staples Center where the world would watch them play. What made this game have more success than any other in recent years is because of one word; Defense. That word was non-existent in the past games and everyone knows. Sure the game is for fun but at times people want to see it more as a competitive game rather than a playful one.

David Aldrigde a well-known reporter in the NBA said that "This year, you saw great players giving a damn at the defensive end (and, also, referees who blew their whistles)." Last year's game showed little competitiveness and was an embarrassment over the 2017 game that wasted everyone’s time and received heavy criticism an example would be when Giannis Antetokounmpo blitz for a dunk Stephen Curry instead of letting it go decided to lie down on the court to some it's funny to some but for others it was a joke.

In an article from the New York Times “We wanted to kind of change the narrative of the All-Star Game being a joke...The game was so good, it was so competitive, it was the best one I’ve played in.” said the Golden State Warriors’ Kevin Durant, who played for Team LeBron. In the end, Team LeBron emerged victorious in a 148-145 barn-burner that ended in the most unexpected manner which is a defensive stop! They managed to stop Stephen Curry from shooting and Lebron James won the MVP award. "I think myself and Steph, we took it upon ourselves when we decided to do this format that we had to change the landscape of how the All-Star Game was played." Lebron James said after the game.

This was a big improvement and hopefully it will continue to improve.

In other news pop singer, Fergie bungling her version of “The Star Spangled Banner” at Monday night’s N.B.A. All-Star Game was entertaining. It made some player laugh and smile.