LAS VEGAS — This year’s NBA All-Star Game will feature an innovative tournament format during the midseason festivities, as announced on Tuesday. The event will take place in San Francisco and promises to significantly alter the traditional approach to the All-Star showcase.
The new structure will consist of a four-team format, where three teams of eight All-Stars each will compete against a fourth team made up of players who excelled in the Rising Stars challenge aimed at rookies and second-year players. Each game will end once a team reaches 40 points, likely resulting in a noticeable decrease in overall scoring compared to previous games.
Scheduled for February 16 at the Golden State Warriors’ arena, this tournament is set to kick off with the Rising Stars event happening on February 14. NBA Commissioner has expressed that the league’s goal is to enhance competition while ensuring an engaging experience for fans. “Modern All-Stars are partly about competition, but ultimately they aim to entertain fans and create a memorable experience,” he stated.
This shift toward a more competitive atmosphere has been long-awaited, especially following last season when teams combined for a staggering 397 points in a game that ended with a score of 211-186. With a total of 289 shot attempts — primarily focused on close-range and three-point shooting — league officials are optimistic about the change.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a prominent contender for this season’s All-Star selection, noted the significance of competition in the revamped format. “Their efforts to change things make sense,” he remarked, expressing his eagerness to witness players truly competing.
The NBA has previously experimented with various All-Star formats over the years, transitioning from the classic East vs. West matchup and introducing the captain-driven team selection process for the league’s All-Star Games in recent seasons. Notable players like LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo have taken on captain roles, with several adjustments, such as the target score format in place during some of those years to increase competitiveness.
Last year, the game returned to the traditional conference-based format, which resulted in record-breaking scores and displayed some remarkable plays. After winning the MVP in the previous game, Damian Lillard hinted at the need for further alterations to enhance gameplay competitiveness.
The league collaborated with the National Basketball Players Association to develop this new tournament format in hopes of striking a chord with fans. “We wanted to brainstorm a format that would create a more engaging game, or in this case, a series of competitions that would draw in fans,” the Commissioner explained.
All-Star voting will commence on Thursday with the previous voting approach still intact. Fans can participate daily until January 20, selecting three frontcourt and two backcourt players from both conferences, with votes influencing the 10 players designated as “starters.” The players’ selection will follow a weighted system that balances fan input, media, and current players’ votes.
The designations of starter and reserve will be somewhat irrelevant on the tournament night, reflecting the dynamic nature of the event. Teams will be formed on February 6, where TNT analysts Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley, and Kenny Smith will draft players from the 24-member All-Star roster, naming their teams as Team Shaq, Team Charles, and Team Kenny, respectively.
The Rising Stars challenge winner will participate in the tournament as Team Candace, named in honor of Candace Parker. Furthermore, coaching responsibilities will fall to the staffs of the teams with the best records in both conferences, with some restrictions on which teams may coach this year.
Compensation is also a part of the new format, with a total prize pool of $1.8 million for participating teams. Each player from the winning team will receive $125,000, while those on the runner-up team will get $50,000, and players from the semifinalist teams will earn $25,000.
