There is a glamorous side to being an All Star, especially a new one. It gives a player some name recognition and a chance to play with the best in the game in what has now become a glorified offensive scrimmage. Threre’s the Hollywood treatment that young players in small markets don’t often get, and of course — rightly or not — it helps increase what a player’s maximum contract extension can be.
Of course, there’s also the downside, and that is that a player now officially has a target on his back. Dejounte Murray learned that the hard way in the Spurs’ first game back from the All-Star break, where he cruised through an easy first half with 20 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists, but then the Wizards made a halftime adjustment.