Editor’s note: Shortly after the end of select NBA events this season, Joe Vardon will offer his “First Thoughts,” a dissection of the important things you should know about what you just watched. Thefse will be a running diary of news, notes, quotes and insight and will include observations gathered from the site of each event. Vardon is covering his sixth NBA season and formally joined The Athletic’s national team in September.
CHICAGO — Twenty-five first thoughts from All-Star Saturday night, which shall forever be remembered for the dunk that didn’t win.
1. Before everyone got drunk on 3s and dunks and, well, booze, Adam Silver kicked off All-Star Saturday night with the most sobering of press conferences.
2. Scandalous, brilliant dunk contest. Aaron Gordon jumped over freaking Tacko Fall…AND LOST! There wasn’t a person at the United Center, outside of maybe Miami’s Derrick Jones Jr., who won the damn thing, who didn’t…
