NBA shakes up All-Star Game with radical new format
The NBA is shaking things up for its 74th All-Star Game this Sunday in San Francisco with a brand-new format. But will it be a hit or a flop?
Traditionally, the All-Star Game pits the best players from the Eastern Conference against the best from the West. But this has notoriously led to players not taking the game seriously or making it very competitive. Case in point: Last year’s record-setting 211-186 final score with plenty of dunks and 3-pointers — and basically no defense. Players were taking 70-foot jumpers.
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"I think everyone was disappointed in what they saw last year,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said a few weeks before announcing the new format in December.
This year’s All-Star Game, instead of having two teams and one game, will feature a mini-tournament with four teams and three games (two semifinals and the title game). It’s also guaranteed to not be a high-scoring affair: The winning team is the first to reach 40 points.
Players don't seem to love it yet. "I hate it. Absolutely hate it. Terrible," Kevin Durant reportedly said when he learned of the change.
Nonetheless, the All-Star Game will be the culmination of a weekend that includes several other must-see events. On Saturday night, fans can catch the AT&T Slam Dunk contest, the Starry 3-Point Contest and the Celebrity Game (which includes baseball great Barry Bonds, country singers Mickey Guyton and Shaboozey, influencer Kai Cenat, and more).
For the first time ever, NBA fans can play a direct role in choosing the AT&T Slam Dunk champion.
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But back to the main event: Of the final four teams, one might not even have NBA players. Three teams will comprise NBA players “drafted” from the All-Star pool by TV analysts Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith, though they were essentially divided by category.
Team Shaq’s OGs has some of the league’s oldest mainstays, including LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers (with a record 21st All-Star selection), Steph Curry (Golden State Warriors), Kevin Durant (Phoenix Suns) and more.
Most of Team Chuck’s Global Stars hail from abroad or have international connections. They’ll be helmed by Serbian Niola Jokić (Denver Nuggets) and French phenom Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs). The Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece and Nigeria) was originally drafted but is out due to injury.
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Meanwhile, Team Kenny’s Young Stars features the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards, New York Knicks’ Jalen Brunson and more.
The last team will be whoever wins Friday night's annual Rising Stars tournament, featuring the NBA’s best rookies and sophomores, as well as one team made up of NBA G League players. If the G Leaguers pull off the upset, they'll face off against the NBA's best on one of its biggest stages.
