NBA All-Star Game 2012: Why the Game Still Matters to Fans

The NBA All-Star Game doesn't count for anything, so why does it still matter to fans?

The All-Star Game doesn't decide home-court advantage in the NBA Finals, so it matters less than in baseball.  But it's also not a complete sideshow like the NFL's much-maligned Pro Bowl. It may not be essential to every basketball fan, but it still means something.

The NBA All-Star Game counts to fans because it's a showcase for a mix of basketball's best and most entertaining players.  The fans vote in the starters, which makes it worth tuning in to see your favorite player.  But the fans don't vote in everyone, and the coaches' picks make it a great way to see a true mix of the league's best talent.

The NBA also made the All-Star Game into a whole weekend experience, which was a very clever move. It blocks out a whole piece of the basketball calendar, rather than simply a few hours, which makes fans much more likely to tune in to at least one event.  

Want to see new sensation Jeremy Lin?  They are working him into the scrimmage.  Interested in new European star Ricky Rubio?  Check out the rookie-sophomore game.  And, if you just plain want to see LeBron James match up against Kevin Durant, tune into the big show!

Collectively, the whole experience gives fans a sense of the whole NBA.  The fun events, like the scrimmage, skills, three-point shooting and dunk contest, showcase guys who may not have made the real team but are still very entertaining.  The rookie-sophomore game shows viewers the next wave of NBA talent.  And the real game shows fans the best players in basketball today.  

So, of course fans care: It may not totally matter, but it's a whole lot of fun.