Let’s pick NBA All-Star starters! Plus, Bodega KAT returns to Minnesota tonight!

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There were zero games in the NBA last night. Have you seen a film? Binge a show? Play ice hockey? The season premiere of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills”?

Time to vote!

The Bounce selects All-Star starters

You may not have heard the news lately, but the NBA has officially announced another change to the All-Star Game format due to the game’s defense and overall product not being ideal in recent years. As expected, the NBA will pit four teams of eight players against each other in a small mini-tournament, which will provide variety and hopefully make players want to compete again. Three of the teams will be the 24 All-Stars, selected through voting. The fourth team will be the winning team of the Rising Stars Challenge.

By the way, Kevin Durant hates it! He told reporters it was “terrible” and said the league should just go back to playing East vs. West. Don’t worry, KD! At some point, players will likely become apathetic to this format and need another change. Maybe this will trigger the return of East-West? Or even US-born players versus international players?

Separately, the league also opened voting for All-Star starters today. Voting is open now through the end of January 20 and can be completed via the NBA app and official website.

Therefore, it seems like the right time to announce my selection of starters from the East and West player pools. There may be changes between now and next month, but this is where The Bounce is currently trending.

This is based on several factors. Of course, a player must first and foremost earn this selection. We will give preferential treatment to the players on the best teams and not treat this like a veritable popularity contest… most of the time. That could change in the coming weeks. On the other hand, the entertainment factor might lead me to set some standards for my entrees.

Eastern Appetizers

Mitchell, Tatum and Giannis are easy to get to. Mitchell is the best player on the best team, Tatum was incredible for the second best team (and the defending champions), and Giannis’ play was reminiscent of Shaq’s dominance on the team. The other choices might technically be a bit controversial or at least debatable.

Brunson vs. Trae Young is interesting. Young has finally found a better balance to help Atlanta win again. His averages are great, but his percentages are pretty mediocre. Brunson was more consistent on a better team. Jaylen Brown is also a candidate for a guard spot. As for Mobley, he’s pretty close to Karl-Anthony Towns. Towns was great, but Mobley’s team is better and his rise is a big reason.

Western Appetizers

Okay, two things that need to be clarified right from the start. Yes, I know Dončić is Dallas’ leading guard, but he’s 6’3″ and I wanted to cheat. Second, Anthony Davis was better than LeBron, and that seems impossible to ignore. While I don’t think this will be the last season for the all-time leading goalscorer, we’re not 100% sure. Just in case, I would like to see James at the start at least once more.

For that matter, SGA and Jokić are by far the easiest selection. Both could be named league MVP if they keep up their production, and no one will give you competition right out of the gate. If this person fights you on this issue, they are simply trying too hard. I think Edwards has been great this season and he’s the reason I cheated by putting Dončić in the frontcourt.

The last 24

Maybe Vegas can’t handle the NBA Cup

⚽ Illuminating. NWSL player Trinity Rodman spoke about her difficult relationship with her father, Dennis Rodman. “He is not a father.”

🏀 Is Vegas boring? Marcus Thompson says the NBA Cup needs a morale boost. Is Sin City Capable??

📺 Don’t miss this reunion tonight. Knicks (16-10) at Timberwolves (14-11), 9:30 p.m. ET on TNT. Towns returns to the Twin Cities as a Knick for the first time (more on that with a quick scroll).

📺 Fun point guard showdown. Warriors (14-11) at Grizzlies (18-9), 8 p.m. ET on League Pass. You can’t miss Steph Curry vs Ja Morant.

KAT returns

Karl-Anthony Towns is back in MPLS tonight

Karl-Anthony Towns helped save the Timberwolves from a lifetime of embarrassment. I know this may seem ridiculous to people who viewed him as a failure for not becoming the next Kevin Garnett. But the fact is that Towns’ arrival in 2015 was the start of the Wolves finally moving away from the punch line and becoming a most respected team.

His early fame and skills helped attract the likes of Tom Thibodeau, which also led to the acquisition of Jimmy Butler. That tandem wasn’t perfect and ended with plenty of drama, but it also ended the Wolves’ 14-year playoff drought in 2018.

Towns’ leadership was shaky over the years, but he figured it out when Anthony Edwards started to become a star. He never let his ego get in the way, probably because of his experience with Butler. He passed the torch while contributing to arguably the most successful season the franchise has ever had. That’s why last September’s trade was a shock, a financial move disguised as a basketball decision.

The 29-year-old ranks second in franchise history in points, rebounds and blocks – all behind KG. He is also fourth in assists and steals. And he has the most 3-point shots in team history. He will be greeted with great appreciation when the Knicks visit Target Center tonight. And that’s exactly how it should be.

Giveaway or takeaway

The hornets give and take from a child

It’s the time to make wishes come true! Kids hope for amazing gifts, and the NBA actually does a great job giving gifts to their fans and their local communities. That’s what made a terrible decision during a Hornets game so incredible, especially given today’s social media attention.

In a “skit” (that’s what they call it) during Monday’s Hornets game, Charlotte’s mascot Hugo was dressed like Santa Claus and a 13-year-old fan accompanied him on the field. The in-game host read a “Letter to Santa” via a PS5 video game console. As part of the moment, they gifted the child a PS5, which retails for around $400. It’s a great gift! But here’s the problem:

They took it away as soon as the skit was over and the cameras were off. Instead, they gave him a Hornets jersey. Uh… what?! After some backlash online, the team issued a statement comparing the skit to a turnover. This is a real quote:

“We have reached out to the family and are committed to not only doing everything right, but also exceeding expectations.”

The Hornets haven’t exceeded expectations in…a decade? I wouldn’t make promises we can’t keep. Still, they said they returned the PS5 to the child and wanted to give his family VIP treatment for an upcoming game. Let me take a look at the timeline depending on how they handled it. The Wizards are in town on February 3rd. Hornets, I swear to George Zidek if you get that kid to be there The Game …

Happy Holidays!

NBA Ratings

A quick note on the conversation

We had a report this week that NBA ratings were down 19 percent. As you have probably already read on The athlete (And if you don’t, then you really should), commented Commissioner Adam Silver. He got to the heart of the matter by highlighting fan interest, social media following, league-wide viewership and the league’s impending move toward full streaming adoption.

To be honest, I no longer understand the point of the TV ratings discussion. The league just signed a $76 billion deal with Disney, NBC and Amazon Prime. A massive influx of revenue will soon reach the NBA. Can the league really be in trouble with this gigantic deal on the way?

Instead of using the same trite phrases about reviews, we should focus on discussing the product in a meaningful way. This doesn’t just mean holding out for 3-point attempts. It’s about improving the competitiveness of games. This way you can make them feel like they are more important. Problem (partially) solved.

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(Top photo: Maddie Meyer / Getty Images )