Baffling TNT tribute exemplifies how NBA botched All-Star telecast

The NBA changed its format due to complaints that the All-Star Game had become unwatchable because of the players' lack of seriousness about the game. All-Stars were slotted into three teams, placed in a round-robin tournament and as an extra incentive, forced to compete with a team made up of rookies and sophomores.

That did lead to an increased level of intensity, blocked shots and actual NBA defense. Unfortunately, the players' seriousness was accompanied by a lack of seriousness from the broadcast.

The tribute to "Inside the NBA" should have taken place before the games started. Or in one of the extended intermissions between the three games. Instead, it happened in the middle of the final, forcing all the All-Stars to stand around, tighten up and watch an extended skit where Kevin Hart handed out fishing gear.

Plus, it was a strange decision to do such a long tribute for a show that isn't even going off the air. "Inside the NBA" will continue next season on ESPN. Unless you're a fan who deeply cares about Warner Bros. Discovery's media rights, it's not all that meaningful.

It was just one of many unserious parts of the telecast. Hart heckled players in his role as on-court emcee. Mr. Beast ran a contest where Damian Lillard shot against a fan for $100K. TNT had 11 different broadcasters on the telecast at various times, not including Hart.

The result was an overlong event that featured very little basketball during a very long running time. The musical interludes were well done, but when there's far more commercials and talking than actual basketball, the NBA has messed up.

After that long final-game interlude, the players seemed to decide that if the league wasn't taking the game seriously, they wouldn't, either. The end of the game was a series of halfcourt shots, self-alley oops and disinterested defense. Or, the players simply didn't want to pull a hamstring 12 points into the game after taking an unnecessarily long break.

If this is how TNT handled its last NBA All-Star Game, the network won't be missed. The NBA had high expectations for the players on Sunday. Its telecast failed to meet those standards.