SAN FRANCISCO — The upcoming NBA All-Star Game is set to provide a thrilling clash of talent as it transitions to a new format, pitting seasoned players against a youthful ensemble of rising stars. This year’s event includes an impressive assembly of talent on one side, with a remarkable total of 86 All-Star selections and $2.7 billion amassed through their careers, featuring athletes who have all either won an NBA championship, Olympic gold medals, or both.
Opposing them will be a team comprised of younger competitors still establishing their legacy in the league. This restructured All-Star affair takes the form of a single-elimination mini-tournament featuring four squads of eight players competing in three matches, with the objective of reaching 40 points first. This innovative idea is the NBA’s latest attempt to inject competitiveness back into its annual midseason festivities.
“It’s definitely different, definitely interesting,” noted Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks. “We’ll see. I’m just as interested as you.”
Gone are the days of the Eastern Conference facing off against the Western Conference. Instead, the four teams have been given fresh names: Shaq’s OGs, Kenny’s Young Stars, Chuck’s Global Stars, and Candace’s Rising Stars — each paying homage to basketball legends and TNT analysts Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley, and Candace Parker.
The action kicks off with Smith’s Young Stars facing Barkley’s Global Stars in the first semifinal. The second semifinal promises high stakes and ample intrigue, featuring O’Neal’s star-studded lineup, which includes superstars like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, and James Harden. They will be challenged by a youthful assembly of recently drafted players who clinched their All-Star placements by excelling in the Rising Stars competition: San Antonio’s Stephon Castle, Utah’s Keyonte George, Phoenix’s Ryan Dunn, along with Memphis teammates Zach Edey and Jaylen Wells, Golden State’s Trayce Jackson-Davis, the Los Angeles Lakers’ Dalton Knecht, and Houston’s Amen Thompson. While undeniably talented, these players are still working toward becoming recognized All-Stars.
Despite this, there’s a genuine possibility they could secure an upset in the All-Star Game. “I think that’s probably why they put this type of format in, to kind of heighten that sense of pride and not wanting to be on the wrong end of that,” explained Damian Lillard. “I mean, we’ll see. I think one thing about a team full of young players is they’re going to come out there and they’re going to play with some energy. They’re going to play fast. I think that’ll probably heighten the competition.”
BetMGM Sportsbook considers the Rising Stars to be significant underdogs in this tournament. Expectations are low for them, but Mac McClung, who faced off against this team during the Rising Stars competition finale, believes they should not be dismissed. “They’re still NBA basketball players. They’re still really good basketball players,” McClung commented. “And I think everybody’s vibe is just joy right now. We’ll see how competitive the game is. I’m excited to watch it myself.”
The motivation behind this new format is clear: to foster a competitive atmosphere, a far cry from last year’s event, which drew criticism for its excessive scoring, resulting in a lopsided final tally of 211-186. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and others in the league hierarchy are striving for an improved, more engaging product. Thus, the tournament was born, with players like Stephen Curry hopeful that this fresh approach will invigorate the experience. “I like taking chances on something different, knowing that the game had kind of stalled out for a couple of years,” Curry stated. “I think it’ll work just because it’ll be something new for everybody.”
At least one competitor has promised to bring defensive intensity to the game. Victor Wembanyama of San Antonio, who’s being considered for the Defensive Player of the Year award and is making his All-Star debut, expressed his determination. “That’s the goal,” Wembanyama affirmed. “The goal is not to chill, for sure.”
To underscore the competitive imbalance anticipated in the semifinals, consider the scoring prowess on Shaq’s OGs: they house James, Durant, Harden, Curry, Lillard, Irving, Tatum, and Brown — marking them among the top scorers in NBA history. In contrast, the leading scorer for the Rising Stars team, George, ranks a significantly lower 1,813th on the all-time scoring chart.
The tournament’s rules are straightforward: games will be played without a set time, with the first team to reach 40 points declared the winner. There will be no player ejections due to fouls, and usual regulations largely apply. Financial incentives are at stake, with players on the winning team receiving $125,000 each, while the runners-up earn $50,000, and the other two teams receive $25,000 per player.
