Former New England Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi thoroughly enjoyed the 2020 NBA All-Star Game.
It was arguably the most entertaining All-Star Game of any sport, and the incentives had a lot to do with it. The NBA took the ‘Elam Ending’ and put the target score to win at 157. The first three quarters were incentive-based for charity, so every step of the way there was entertainment and grit on the court.
This made for an ultra-competitive atmosphere and it involved the best players in the world going full speed. Not only did they make the All-Star Game entertaining, they’ve found the perfect formula for an incredible weekend. The NBA’s dunk contest, three-point shootout and skills competition bring great entertainment. They also cherish and celebrate every city they enter, making the event a huge deal every year for the location that hosts it.
Meanwhile, the Pro Bowl brings very little entertainment value and is a weekend oftentimes overlooked by fans. Bruschi harped on that with a very simple tweet Sunday night.
He tweeted throughout the night with excitement and engagement for the NBA’s event.
Obviously, football is a contact sport and it’s not that simple to reciprocate what the NBA is doing. But, incentivizing the games in a similar way and making the location more meaningful could be a great start.
