The 2026 NBA All-Star Game was probably the league's best in several years, as the new format - featuring three different teams, including two made up of U.S. players and one made up of World players - proved to be a success.
But over the years, several of the league's top players have faced questions about their lack of effort and competitiveness when it comes to the NBA All-Star Game. American players like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, Kawhi Leonard and others have consistently faced scrutiny for the NBA All-Star Game.
Former NBA greats have called them out, too, telling them to play harder and take it more seriously.
Meanwhile, the league's best player, Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic, has largely avoided any scrutiny. Why?
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) reacts in the third quarter against the Utah Jazz at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn
Jokic played only a couple of minutes in Sunday night's All-Star Game. He's nursing a knee injury.
Still, in previous editions of the NBA All-Star Game, Jokic hasn't shown much interest in competing hard.
NBA fans are wondering why someone like Jokic has skated past criticism, while American players like LeBron and Durant haven't.
Fans criticize Jokic for not caring about All-Star Game
"Jokic's apathy as personality trait stuck out like a sore thumb in contrast to rest of All Star game and its lame as hell that as the best player in the world he feels no duty to be engaged in a league showcase. Massive double standard for how he gets talked about in this regard," one reporter wrote.
Another shared: "He gets defended so much for it. And it's all "he doesn't have to care about exhibition games" but no one else gets that. The conversation every All-Star weekend is that players should care more again and the structure gets changed constantly to ignite that. But he's excepted."
Why is that?
Some could argue that Jokic has never asked to be the face of the league. He shies away from attention, constantly, in a way that others do not.
"WE put those things on him, and he doesn't care if we take them off. I don't know what to do with our having an expectation of someone worthy of our praise but recalcitrant to our standards," Matt Moore replied.
Does Jokic need to face more criticism for his attitude and behavior at the NBA All-Star Weekend?
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