LAS VEGAS (AP) — This season, the NBA All-Star Game is transitioning into an All-Star tournament format, as announced by the league on Tuesday. The updated concept enhances the midseason showcase in San Francisco, set for Feb. 16 at the Golden State Warriors’ home arena.
In a significant change, the format will feature four teams competing in three games in one night. Three teams will consist of eight All-Stars each, while the fourth team will comprise the winner of the Rising Stars challenge, which highlights first- and second-year players. In this new setup, the winning team will be the first to reach 40 points in each game.
“We acknowledge that modern All-Stars are about competition, but essentially, they are meant to entertain fans and provide them with an exciting experience,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver remarked on Tuesday.
With the league’s desire for a more competitive atmosphere in the All-Star events, this decision comes after last year’s record-breaking combined score of 397 points—a 211-186 victory—during the game held in Indianapolis. Last season also saw teams executing 289 shot attempts, with nearly all of them coming from inside the paint or beyond the three-point arc.
“I think it’s a welcome change, and with the focus on competition, it makes sense,” said Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, guard for the Oklahoma City Thunder and a likely All-Star for the third time. “In the end, it comes down to whether players want to compete, and I would definitely love to take part in that.”
The All-Star format has evolved over recent years. Initially, the event was a straightforward matchup between the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference, playing four 12-minute quarters. However, the league then shifted to a new method allowing the leading vote-getters from each conference to serve as team captains and draft their squads.
LeBron James has captained the teams all six times since the switch, with figures like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Durant, and Stephen Curry taking on captain roles in various years. During some captain-led games, a target score format was introduced in the fourth quarter, where the winner was the first team to reach a predetermined score based on the leading team’s score plus 24 points, honoring Kobe Bryant’s jersey number.
Last year saw a return to the East vs. West format, producing extraordinary highlights, including Luka Doncic attempting a remarkable 70-foot jumper and Damian Lillard finishing with a 44-foot shot, demonstrating a lack of competitive intensity.
“I believe there’s potential for improvement,” Lillard stated following his MVP outing last year. “While I’m unsure of the specifics, we definitely can find a way to make it a more competitive experience.”
In collaboration with the National Basketball Players Association, the NBA is optimistic that the new format will better engage fans. “We worked closely with the players association, and after discussions with players, we aimed to craft a format that would generate a more engaging series of competitions for the fans,” Silver explained.
Voting Format
The process for All-Star voting, which begins Thursday, remains unchanged. Fans can cast their votes daily until Jan. 20 for three frontcourt and two backcourt players from both conferences. The voting will include a weighted formula, with fan votes comprising 50%, media votes 25%, and player votes also 25%, to decide the ten players labeled as “starters.” The NBA head coaches will select 14 “reserves.” However, the distinction of starters and reserves may change on game night with 15 players starting across the three teams and only nine players coming off the bench in the semifinal games.
Team Selection Process
TNT analysts Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley, and Kenny Smith will draft the teams from the 24-player All-Star pool on Feb. 6, with each team bearing their names: Team Shaq, Team Charles, and Team Kenny. The Rising Stars winner will be referred to as Team Candace in honor of Candace Parker.
Coaching Staffs
The coaching staff from the teams with the best records in the Eastern and Western Conferences will oversee the All-Star Game. Notably, the Milwaukee Bucks and Minnesota Timberwolves are ineligible to coach this year as they led their teams last season.
Both Eastern and Western Conference head coaches will direct one of the tournament teams, with one assistant from each staff becoming the head coach for the other two teams.
Prize Money
This year’s All-Star Game offers a prize pool of $1.8 million. Players from the winning team will earn $125,000 each, while those on the runner-up team will receive $50,000 each. Players eliminated in the semifinals will earn $25,000 each.
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