“You work all year to be an All-Star and you get to play up to 40 and then you’re done. This is so unfair to Victor Wembanyama, who just took this game really seriously,” “this su-ks, it ain’t basketball.” You know the All-Star Game was a disaster when Draymond Green started making sense!
Only 42 minutes of actual basketball were played over a three-hour span, leaving fans frustrated. But one of the biggest controversies of the night? WNBA legend Candace Parker coaching the NBA Rising Stars team. The TNT Analyst was chosen to lead Team C which won the 2025 Castrol Rising Stars under the guidance of hall of fame Chris Mullin.
As if enduring endless commercials and Kevin Hart’s antics weren’t enough, fans were also treated to Candace Parker’s puzzling decisions on the sidelines and her frustrating commentary. The frustration spilled onto social media, where fans didn’t hold back from criticizing not just her coaching but also her live commentary with TNT throughout the broadcast!
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Let’s dive into what the fans had to say about Candace Parker’s performance on the sidelines and behind the mic!
Fans unhappy with Candace Parker’s commentary
One fan on X took the sarcasm game to the next level after posting “Candace Parker is like easily the best commentator we’ve ever seen. Everytime shes on the mic I simply cant get enough of her high level insight and deep cuts. Truly a great basketball mind with the voice of an angel.”
At first, it sounded like genuine praise, until the same user followed up with an even more exaggerated post, “No Candace Parker is the best commentator of all time. She needs more screen time and a bigger contract. Would much rather hear her angelic womanly voice that kisses the eardrums, than kenny chuck and shaq ever again! Replace all the guys with women! Theyre way better!”
Parker, who works as a color commentator and part of the NBA studio for NBC and an analyst for TNT, will be a free agent next year. Lately, fans have started to grow frustrated with her color commentary, which often feels more like a play-by-play breakdown than insightful analysis. Things didn’t help when she sparked even more backlash by declaring Chelsea Gray the best point guard in the WNBA during an Unrivaled game. A statement that certainly didn’t win her any fans.
This obviously created a fully blown meltdown among the Caitlin Clark fans and Parker had to face quite a lot of hate. Even last night during the show, Candace was busy comparing herself with NBA Hall of Famers and this triggered a few fans who objected it by saying, “My highlight of all star weekend is Candace Parker once again comparing her experience in the WNBA to another HOF NBA player. She told Draymond Green that is not a genius Coach 1st and said she has the same Alpha mentality in an NBA locker room! Lol! Please use more Legends!”
While Candace Parker may be one of the most controversial commentators in the game right now, there are still some fans who genuinely appreciate her bold style. One fan even took to X to say, “Candace Parker might be the best basketball analyst we have, and somehow, she doesn’t have a job lined up for next year.”
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Parker’s unfiltered approach is part of what makes her so polarizing. She says exactly what’s on her mind, no matter how controversial it might be. This bluntness has sparked plenty of backlash, but for those who appreciate her fiery spirit, it’s exactly what makes her stand out in a sea of more polished, cautious analysts. Fans are speculating about a move to ESPN next year but it remains to be seen where she goes next.
But it wasn’t just Candace’s commentary that earned her the hate last night. her coaching decisions also caused a frenzy among fans. One fan went on X, fuming:“@Candace_Parker you b-m, don’t coach anymore if you’re going to leave your tallest player on just 3 minutes of playing time in an All-Star game.”
Parker’s coaching choices raised plenty of eyebrows, as she played Edey for just 3 minutes and opted to start Amen Thompson on the bench. These moves had fans livid on social media. Despite the backlash, Parker’s team gave a fierce fight against Shaq’s OGs, losing narrowly 40-35. While the result might not have gone in her favor, the close scoreline speaks volumes about her tactical acumen
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Love her or hate her, Candace Parker’s unapologetic style makes her one of the most talked-about figures in basketball commentary. While her unfiltered opinions and bold decisions might rub some the wrong way, they’re exactly what keeps her authentic and true to herself.