NBA considering going to a tournament format for the All-Star Game

By Tim Reynolds

The NBA is considering going to a tournament-style lawsuit for the All-Star Game, akin to what has been utilized successful the Rising Stars contention successful caller years, 2 radical with cognition of the program said Friday.

The people, who spoke to The Associated Press connected information of anonymity due to the fact that nary changes had been finalized, said the conception has been discussed for respective weeks and was further talked astir during a contention committee gathering connected Friday.

The thought centers astir the 24 All-Star selections being divided into 3 teams of 8 players, with the 4th squad apt to beryllium the victor of the Rising Stars contention that volition beryllium held earlier that weekend.

The changes would instrumentality effect starting with this season’s All-Star play successful San Francisco, acceptable for Feb. 14-16.

It remains unclear however the voting process would change. Fans, players and media person been portion of a weighted strategy to take starters, portion coaches person selected reserves. Under the projected format, determination would not beryllium immoderate reserves — truthful it’s apt each 4 voting entities would play a relation successful selecting the 24-player group.

Also unclear: however choosing coaches would work. Typically, the coaching staffs from the teams starring the Eastern and Western Conferences are invited to manager the All-Star Game — but now, with 3 oregon 4 teams involved, much coaches could beryllium needed.

ESPN archetypal reported the thought of the changes Friday.

Commissioner Adam Silver said earlier this month that the league wants to alteration the format of the All-Star Game, with hopes that it tin go much competitive. The East bushed the West 211-186 past season, combining for the astir points in the game’s 73-year past and marking the archetypal clip a squad eclipsed 200 points.

“We’re looking astatine different formats,” Silver said connected Nov. 2, without specifying what whitethorn change. “I deliberation there’s nary uncertainty that the players were disappointed arsenic good successful past year’s All-Star Game. We each privation to bash a amended occupation providing contention and amusement for our fans.”

The league has tinkered with the All-Star look respective times successful caller years. Among the attempts were scrapping the longstanding East-vs.-West format for a draught picked by squad captains and going to an untimed 4th fourth with a people people to guarantee that the crippled indispensable extremity connected a made shot.

Last year’s crippled went backmost to the accepted format — 4 afloat 12-minute quarters, East vs. West. And it was thing but an violative showcase, with the teams combining for 168 3-point attempts.

So, this year, the NBA is connected the brink of trying thing caller — astatine slightest for the All-Stars. The rookie-sophomore crippled was scrapped a fewer years agone for the Rising Stars tournament, wherever the apical first- and second-year players are divided into 4 teams. Two teams play, past the different 2 teams play, and the winners conscionable to determine the Rising Stars champion. It’s shorter bursts of basketball, and that whitethorn entreaty to the All-Star players much than the 48-minute game.

Silver enlisted Golden State prima Stephen Curry, among different players, to assistance fig retired a mode to marque the All-Star Game much competitory this season. Members of the National Basketball Players Association enactment radical person been progressive successful the talks surrounding the existent All-Star changes, the radical said.

There were elements added to past year’s All-Star play that worked, specified arsenic the Curry vs. Sabrina Ionescu 3-point contest that the league wants to bring backmost this play — apt with Caitlin Clark and possibly Klay Thompson progressive to marque it a 2-on-2 format.

“When you look astatine the involvement successful presumption of viewership past year, 1 of the highlights was that Sabrina-Steph shootout,” Silver said earlier this month. “So, we bash privation to bash much of that.”