The Ringer NBA Show Wemby Saves the All-Star Game. Plus, Tanking Reform Gets Serious. | Group Chat
Feb 16, 2026
A lively breakdown of the revamped All-Star format and why it finally felt competitive. A focus on Victor Wembanyama’s intensity and how certain player personalities can change the game. A critique of Saturday night’s low-energy events and ideas to revive the dunk contest. A deep dive into potential tanking reforms, the draft’s role, and louder calls for league accountability.
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Format Made The Game Matter
- The new round-robin format made the All-Star Game much more watchable by creating condensed, meaningful stretches.
- Short, competitive 12-minute games prompted players to care and produced closer, more engaging moments.
T‑Shirt Catapult Surprise
- Justin Verrier got hit by a T‑shirt launched to the upper bowl while he was on his phone during All-Star Saturday.
- The Intuit Dome setup sent shirts to the upper seats with catapults, surprising many casual attendees.
Dunk Contest In Need Of Reinvention
- All-Star Saturday's events, especially the dunk contest, lack the showmanship and star-level participants that made them special historically.
- The dunk contest risks injury and feels stale when it relies on non‑rotation players and low-risk routines.