With great anticipation but also with a certain level of expectation, I flew to San Francisco. Maybe that’s exactly where the problem lies – are we setting our expectations for the All-Star Game too high? Which expectations are actually justified? Many discussions have taken place over the past few days. Why do we always focus on the negatives instead of appreciating what went well? Humans are naturally skilled at seeing everything they don’t like rather than appreciating all the good things.
I want to focus on the positives because I truly believe there were a thousand times more great moments than things that could be improved. After all, with all the suggestions for improvement – who knows if they would actually work? In the end, it always comes down to the players, what they make of it, and how much intensity they bring to the game. Ultimately, it depends on how important this event is to them. So the question remains: why does it feel like some players have lost their joy for All-Star Weekend?
On February 12th, I flew from Los Angeles to San Francisco. For me, All-Star Weekend started on Thursday with the Crossover event for media members, giving us a chance to get a first impression of the entire event. Right away, I had one of those moments that deeply moved me. It was my first time covering the All-Star Game live on-site as a journalist. Seeing all the props up close – the rack for the Three-Point Contest, the Starry Ball, or that giant hoop for the Skills Challenge – all these things I had only ever seen on TV before. It’s always these little moments that make me realize that this isn’t just a dream—it’s reality.
And then, getting to see all the journalists again—people who have become friends over the past three years through covering the regular season, playoffs, and finals. The cherry on top? Len Werle and Andi Mayr, two close friends of mine, were also among the accredited journalists. The German Power Trio. Len, editor at OpenCourt-Basketball, and Andi, sports editor at Münchener Merkur. Two people who love basketball just as much as I do and who have their hearts in the right place. Every day of All-Star Weekend was filled with analysis, discussions, and, most importantly, a lot of laughter. Shoutout to both of them—they’ve earned a very special place in my heart.
Friday was all about the Rising Stars. It started with open practice, then media availability, and in the evening, the tournament that determined who would compete on All-Star Sunday. From a German perspective, I was, of course, thrilled to see Tristan da Silva participating. Unfortunately, his team didn’t make it to the final, but it’s still exciting to see his development and how this opportunity allowed him to experience what an All-Star Weekend feels like. It was also nice to observe the interaction between Tristan and Anthony Black.
Anthony was next up on the podium after Tristan and had to wait a moment because so many journalists wanted to ask Tristan questions. That small interaction between them highlighted what we already see with the Orlando Magic—how close this team is. That made me even more excited for the second half of the season. Let’s hope Orlando can get back on track.
Whether this new Rising Stars integration into the All-Star Game will last beyond this year remains questionable. Though I do believe they were one of the reasons we saw a bit more competitiveness on Sunday. However, at this point, it looks like a one-time experiment. But who knows what Adam Silver will come up with for next year?
Speaking of Adam Silver—shoutout to him. That man does not have an easy job. And sure, not everything may seem perfect, but it’s always easy to judge from the outside. New things need to be tested. Not everything works perfectly the first time, but staying open-minded and listening is the first step in the right direction—and that’s exactly what he does.
All-Star Saturday was a special day. Not just because Mac McClung made the Dunk Contest exciting again, but also because I had the chance to be part of the Ran Sport – JumpRan broadcast on ProSieben MAXX, which aired the event live.
It was my third time going live on TV with Ran Sport, so I felt a little more comfortable this time—less nervous than in my previous appearances. I had two live hits: one just before the event started and one right after the Dunk Contest. Both went smoothly, and I can say—it’s just so much fun. When this column goes online, I hope to have already uploaded the clips on Instagram for those who are interested to see the live hits. Let’s be real—not every German was awake at 2 AM to watch All-Star Saturday live.
Whenever I go live, I try to gather inside information that brings real value to the audience—insights that wouldn’t be visible to someone watching from home or even when you were a fan watching live in the arena. That’s what I love most about this job. Picture me running around backstage, trying to catch some exclusive details or having an unexpected conversation with a player that gives me something unique to share. I love it.
But let’s get back to Mac McClung. What impressed me most was his fearlessness—especially with that jump over the car. That was actually risky. And the fact that he nailed all but one dunk on the first try? Crazy. Considering his height, the fact that he didn’t even push off on any of them? Insane. My absolute highlight of the weekend.
But Stephon Castle deserves credit too—his athleticism and dunk selection were nice. I’d love to see him back in the contest next year—along with Ja Morant, Giannis, and Zach LaVine, who have all promised to compete. Let’s see if they actually do.
On the other hand, I was a little disappointed that Damian Lillard didn’t make the Three-Point Contest final. A three-point contest without Steph or Dame in the final just feels… incomplete. Funny enough, the player with the most made threes per game (3.8), leading into All-Star Weekend won it. I was honestly happy for Tyler Herro—he deserved it.
The Spurs disqualification drama annoyed me, so I’ll keep it short. I thought the idea was funny, and it just showed how locked in Wemby was. At an event meant for fun, you shouldn’t be so strict. Let them redo it. It felt unnecessary to take this route, the NBA choose.
And just like that, we were down to the final day. I was a little late because San Francisco traffic is a nightmare. One hour and twenty minutes for what should have been a thirty-five-minute drive. Also, this city is insanely expensive. You don’t even want to know how much I spent on Uber alone in just five days. If anyone guesses within plus or minus thirty euros, I’ll think of a little prize. Let me know on Instagram.
Because of the traffic, I missed LeBron’s press conference. And when I found out he wouldn’t be playing, I felt disappointed. I understand why he made that decision, but it just adds to the feeling that the All-Star Game doesn’t mean as much to some players anymore.
I’m sure he knew beforehand that he wouldn’t play. So why not step aside earlier and let someone else be named as a replacement? But who knows—maybe he genuinely thought he’d play that morning.
One thing I loved seeing, was a bit more defense in the final game. Overall, I just love watching the best players in the world on the same court. If I had one tiny complaint—it was just too short, the game couldn’t devolve a proper game flow – Too few minutes of actual basketball. But I think a lot of people felt that way. Let’s see what changes next year—maybe raising the target score to sixty?
But whatever happens, I’ll wait to judge until I see it in action. At the end of the day, All-Star Weekend is meant to be a break from the season—to recharge and have fun. And if you find it boring… just don’t watch.
Until next time,
Your Flight Girl
