The NHL’s 4 Nations Face-Off took the sports world by storm recently, with the event replacing the NHL All-Star Game this season.
The result was an intense tournament that captivated fans. It has led to some conversations about how the NBA can improve its All-Star format after another year in which basketball’s midseason event was nothing special. Some folks have blamed NBA players for what the All-Star Game has become.
However, the father of Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young thinks that the NBA is still near the top in terms of popularity in America, and he showed love to Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James while addressing the topic.
They really trying to bash the game I grew up loving. Let’s be real the @NBA is still the 2nd most popular sport in America. Ain’t nobody watching Hockey like that😂….Bron might have flaws but anyone that denies his positive impact is just a hater🏀❤️💯 https://t.co/DtHAlaApuw
— Ray Young (@rayfordyoung) February 22, 2025
Young’s father made the comments while referencing a video in which former NHL star P.K. Subban broke down why the NBA All-Star Game is failing. Subban didn’t really disrespect James in the clip but did say that the NBA needs its leaders to step up.
This is by far the BEST breakdown of why the NBA product sucks today.
He @PKSubban1 says it in the most respectful way possible.
— Patrick Bet-David (@patrickbetdavid) February 20, 2025
“You gotta create a better culture for your players,” Subban said of the NBA. “It starts with the leaders. This issue, there was no issue when [Michael] Jordan was around. There was no issue when Kobe [Bryant] was around. There’s no issue when Sidney Crosby’s around. There’s no issue when Wayne Gretzky was around because those are true leaders. … It was the players that did that for the 4 Nations. That’s not the league. The league set it up, but the players went out there and decided and said, ‘You know what boys, we’re all in.’
“When is the NBA gonna do that? Because I haven’t sat down and watched the NBA consistently since Kobe. Since Kobe has died, I have not sat down and watched the NBA consistently. … I think LeBron’s great. I think K.D.’s (Kevin Durant) great, Steph Curry, love watching ’em. But you gotta be on the court. You gotta be there, and when you’re there, you gotta go all in. The fans gotta feel that they’re getting their money’s worth. … 4 Nations works because the players are all in.”
In defending James, Young’s father may be referencing a broader theme lately in which some fans have questioned James’ impact on the NBA.
There may be some elements of James’ legacy that are up for debate in terms of impact, but he has provided the NBA with a consistent face of the league for years and years. He has been an incredibly captivating player for over two decades, and even at 40 years old, he continues to be an icon for the league.
The All-Star Game, however, does appear to still be a problem for the NBA, and one could argue that the overall culture of the league has room for improvement when it comes to competitiveness.
The league’s regular season sometimes fails to interest fans, especially when stars miss time due to injury or load management. All-Star Weekend, meanwhile, is supposed to be a celebration of the league’s top players, but it has fallen short of expectations in recent years. This season, James missed the All-Star Game with an injury.
A tournament-style event didn’t seem to do the trick for the NBA this season at the All-Star Game. Obviously, the NHL just enjoyed tons of success from its own tournament-style event, but the 4 Nations Face-Off had a very different setup than the NBA’s All-Star tournament did.
Moving forward, it will be worth monitoring what the NBA and NHL do in order to maximize interest in their All-Star festivities.
