Fans were EXTREMELY annoyed with the delay in starting NBA All-Star Game 2023: "Start the damn game already", "Pregame started in 1985"
Fans were infuriated after the 2023 NBA All-Star game tip-off got delayed. The official timing for the game start was 8:00 PM ET. The draft took place as scheduled at 7:30 PM ET on TNT. However, the NBA had rapper Post Malone's performance and a bevy of celebrity interviews lineup up, which delayed the start of the game.
NBA fans from the East Coast, in particular, expressed their annoyance online. One fan wrote on Twitter:
"Fun Fact: Tonight’s NBA Allstar Game pregame started in 1985. START THE GAME!"
Fun Fact: Tonight’s NBA Allstar Game pregame started in 1985.
START THE GAME!
Another added:
"NBA got no respect for washed fans on the East Coast... Start the damn game already"
Here are some more reactions that followed:
NBA will interview every crowd member, make 10 guest appearances perform before they actually start the game
The Last of Us is about to start now come on NBA start the game
Y’all expected an NBA game to start on time? Lmfao https://t.co/aKuagEtLdL
Over an hour for this all star game to start… y’all are doin entirely too much dawg @NBA
Me waiting for the NBA All Star game to start
#NBAAllStar https://t.co/oAuaBIdVXi
The NBA gotta cut some of this shit out it’s literally taking damn near 2 hours for the game to start😒
“The All-Star Game is going to start at 8pm”
The NBA: https://t.co/1aabzyNKR5
“will you start any nationally televised game on time, ever?”
the nba: https://t.co/gQQ0cWJYWp
NBA fans waiting for this game to start
https://t.co/W632nZ3w3x
Me waiting for the NBA All-Star Game to start: https://t.co/MBu2kvWfCW
@RyB_311 NBA start a game on time challenge https://t.co/yJmSBlUWik
Maybe the @NBA All Star game might start by Monday!!! This is awful https://t.co/cgc2eXZdTx
The NBA is milking the hell outta the start of this game
Fans' frustrations continue with the 2023 NBA All-Star Game and weekend
The 2023 NBA All-Star Game hasn't impressed the fans so far. They were already frustrated with how things went down on Friday and Saturday. Except for the Slam Dunk contest, the 3-point contest and Skills Challenge received a lot of flak.
Fans wanted better competition for both events. The 3-point contest was stacked with talent. However, it didn't feature any players among the top 10 in 3-point shooting this season. Damian Lillard and Buddy Hield were the only consistent performers at the event.
Meanwhile, the Skills Challenge disappointed fans more. No marquee players featured in the event. Giannis Antetokounmpo pulled out at the last minute and was replaced by teammate Jrue Holiday. As per NBA fans, the players in action didn't perform up to the mark.
Meanwhile, the 2023 All-Star Game started with a lot of excitement. Team captains LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo kicked things off with a live draft right before the game, giving it a more playground feel. However, the delay in start only added to fans' frustrations with this year's All-Star weekend.