All-Star Weekend was supposed to celebrate the league. Instead, it exposed a deeper structural problem.

We break down everything that happened - from Damian Lillard winning his third 3-Point Contest to the collapse of the Dunk Contest, and why star participation is the real issue. Why are the biggest names avoiding Saturday night? Why does the league struggle to generate cultural moments the way it once did? And what does that say about incentives in today’s NBA?

The new tournament format on Sunday delivered. Victor Wembanyama set a competitive tone immediately. Kawhi Leonard turned back the clock. The intensity was real - but is it sustainable?

This episode goes beyond reactions. We analyze:

• Why the Dunk Contest feels structurally broken
• How modern player economics changed All-Star incentives
• The difference between marketing metrics and actual fan engagement
• Whether the tournament format saved the game — or just delayed the problem
• What must change to protect the league’s long-term cultural relevance

All-Star Weekend isn’t just about entertainment. It reflects the league’s direction. And right now, that direction raises serious questions.

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This episode covers everything shaping the NBA right now: All-Star controversy, tanking, league expansion, buyout chaos, and the culture divide between old school intensity and the modern product.

Mo Mooncey and Coach Brendan Suhr open with an all-time All-Star draft featuring legends like Michael Jordan, Stephen Curry, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal - then use it as a launch point to examine a bigger question:

Has the NBA All-Star Game lost its edge?

From declining competitiveness to load management, influencer marketing, and Gen Z viewing habits, the discussion digs into why All-Star Weekend feels different - and what could realistically fix it.

The episode also breaks down:

• The Pistons vs Hornets fight and what it says about NBA culture
• Why tanking is damaging competitive integrity
• Early season load management and its impact on fans
• The buyout market and the career risk for young players
• Expansion to Seattle and Las Vegas
• Whether World vs USA is the only format that can restore All-Star intensity
• Why the modern NBA product is struggling to hold younger audiences

Coach Suhr brings perspective from nearly five decades inside the league, including coaching All-Star Games and competing against the 90s era legends. The contrast between past and present is clear — and uncomfortable.

If you care about the future of the NBA, this is the conversation.

🎧 Listen to the full Hoop Genius Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & all platforms.
📺 Subscribe for new episodes 2x a week.

This podcast is brought to you by NBA2K26:
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The NBA trade deadline delivered fewer blockbusters and more balance-sheet manoeuvres - but the consequences are massive. We break down every meaningful move and what it actually means on the court.

Cleveland emerges as the clear winner, upgrading fit, saving roughly $100M in luxury tax, and improving its Eastern Conference title odds. Indiana lands one of the league’s most underrated centres in Ivica Zubac and sets itself up for another deep playoff run. The Clippers tear down mid-season without owning their pick, Golden State doubles down on a failed two-timeline gamble, and multiple franchises choose tax avoidance over contention.

We cover the Zubac deal fallout, Harden’s impact, Porziņģis to Golden State, Boston’s margin moves, Chicago’s guard overload, Memphis hitting reset, Utah betting big on Jaren Jackson Jr., Washington absorbing stars to hit the floor, and why some teams were right to do nothing at all.

No hype. No rumours. Just what actually happened, and who it helps.

🎧 Listen to the full Hoop Genius Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & all platforms.
📺 Subscribe for new episodes 2x a week.

This podcast is brought to you by NBA2K26:
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