ESPN’s JJ Redick Fed Up With NBA After All-Star Game Starts 40 Minutes Late: ‘It’s Absolutely Out of Control’
ESPN analyst JJ Redick went off on the NBA’s struggles to start things on time after Sunday’s NBA All-Star game began more than 40 minutes after it was scheduled.
The game, which has been widely panned for the players’ lack of effort, was scheduled for 8 p.m. Thanks to a handful of pregame activities, however, the game didn’t tip off until 8:43.
For NBA fans, this actually isn’t uncommon. The nationally-broadcast primetime games routinely start well after the scheduled time, though they don’t always have the same excuse as the All-Star game.
Nonetheless, Redick has had enough of it.
“Why can’t we start anything on time in the NBA?” Redick said on his podcast The Old Man and The Three. “Why can’t we? I’m gonna sound like an old person here, but if it says 8 o’clock, I don’t want it to tip off at 8:42. I’ve already told my kids they can watch the first quarter. It’s a Sunday night. Guess what? They’ve stayed up late like four straight nights because nothing starts on time in the NBA; and it’s driving me crazy. And I work for a broadcast partner.
“Can we please just start things on time in the NBA? It’s out of control. It’s absolutely out of control.”
For the most part, other leagues don’t have the same issue. NFL fans can reliably expect a game to start within minutes of its scheduled time, and the MLB gives the exact minute a first pitch is expected to be thrown.
