NBA considering four-team format for All-Star Game
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Damian Lillard of the Milwaukee Bucks and Eastern Conference All-Stars dribbling the ball against Kevin Durant of the Phoenix Suns and Western Conference All-Stars in the first quarter during the 2024 NBA All-Star Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Feb 18.
PHOTO: AFP
LOS ANGELES – The National Basketball Association (NBA) All-Star Game could have a drastically altered look, with changes being considered for the league’s showcase weekend at San Francisco in February.
ESPN reported on Nov 15 that a four-team format is being considered for a mini-tournament that would be conducted throughout the weekend.
Instead of the traditional East v West format, NBA All-Stars would be divided into three teams. Those teams would wait for the winners of the Rising Stars Game to fill out the four-team field, with a semi-final and final round.
The report indicated that the NBA has considered the plan for at least six months.
The competitive nature of the game has been in question for some time, with the All-Star Game itself getting a rules tweak in recent years. From 2020 to 2023, the game was played to a target score in the fourth quarter, but that format was abandoned last season.
The 2023 All-Star Game at Indianapolis was of particular concern after the Eastern Conference earned a 211-186 victory over the Western Conference. It was the first time in All-Star Game history in which the winning team amassed 200 points, while the 397 total points was a game record.
In October, former United States president and basketball aficionado Barack Obama told Pacers All-Star Tyrese Haliburton on a podcast: “Y’all gotta have a little more pride in that All-Star Game.
“It’s not as if you all don’t play pick-up during the summers. You know how to play in a way that, ‘All right, I’m not going to hurt anybody, I’m not going to take anybody out’. But that All-Star Game, it’s broke, man... Y’all need to do something because I ain’t watching that thing no more.”
Also under consideration is the expansion of the three-point shooting contest that occurred between Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors and Sabrina Ionescu of the Women’s National Basketball Association’s New York Liberty that was won by Curry.
Former Warriors sharpshooter and now Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson could be added to that format, along with the Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark.
In NBA Cup action on Nov 15, West Group C saw Curry and the Warriors score a 123-118 home victory over the Memphis Grizzlies. Golden State spread the points around with 12 different scorers.
In the same group, Brandon Ingram had 29 points as New Orleans Pelicans’ six-game losing skid ended when they beat the Denver Nuggets 101-94.
Three-time NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic, the league’s rebounds and assists leader, was out for personal reasons as Denver’s five-game winning streak ended.
In East Group C, Atlanta Hawks’ Dyson Daniels led eight double-figure scorers with 25 points as they beat the visiting Washington Wizards 129-117.
In East Group A, Franz Wagner scored 31 points to lead the Orlando Magic over the visiting Philadelphia 76ers 98-86.
In New York, Jalen Brunson’s three-pointer with six seconds remaining gave the Knicks a 124-122 victory over the Brooklyn Nets. Brunson had 37 points, while Cam Thomas hit 43 for the Nets.
In East Group B, Bam Adebayo scored 30 points as the Miami Heat beat hosts Indiana Pacers 124-111, while Malik Beasley’s 20 points led the Detroit Pistons in their 99-95 win over the Toronto Raptors. REUTERS, AFP
