NBA may revive East v West format at All-Star Game
Sign up now: Get the biggest sports news in your inbox
Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid scoring during the NBA All-Star game between Team Giannis and Team LeBron at the Vivint arena in Salt Lake City, Utah in February.
PHOTO: AFP
NEW YORK – The National Basketball Association (NBA) All-Star Game could return to an East v West format, commissioner Adam Silver said on Wednesday
Since 2018, the leading vote-getters for each conference are designated as team captains who then draft their rosters. At February’s All-Star Game in Salt Lake City, Team Giannis (Antetokounmpo) defeated Team LeBron (James) 184-175.
But Silver said during an appearance on ESPN’s First Take show on Wednesday that the change could happen right away.
“We’re looking at some potential changes in format in Indianapolis this year,” he said about the 2024 All-Star Game on Feb 18 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
“Maybe a return to something more traditional in terms of how the teams are presented.
“We went to sort of this captain-draft notion, but clearly historically it was East v West. So that’s something we are looking at.”
The East-West format was in place from 1951 to 2017.
Silver’s comments came after NBA head of basketball operations Joe Dumars said last week that reviving interest in the mid-season showcase is a priority for the league.
Silver also downplayed the idea of switching to a Team USA v Team World format, saying there were not enough international players to make it competitive.
Meanwhile, disgruntled Philadelphia 76ers guard James Harden was missing from practice on Wednesday, continuing his time away from the team as he awaits a trade, multiple outlets reported.
The Athletic said Harden has not been with the team since Sunday, skipping a shoot-around and a pre-season win on Monday over the Brooklyn Nets.
He has yet to play in a pre-season game and has taken part in just one five-on-five drill in the two weeks of training camp, noted the news outlet. He reportedly is in Houston instead of in Philadelphia.
Harden has voiced his desire to be traded to the Los Angeles Clippers as the third star on the team, joining Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.
But the Sixers and the Clippers were unable to make any progress on trade talks during the summer, although The Athletic reported on Tuesday that they are still in discussion.
Harden, 34, already has been paid half of the US$35.64 million (S$49 million) due to him in 2023 – a pre-payment option many players choose – according to ESPN. He is scheduled to become a free agent after the season.
A 10-time All-Star, Harden was the league’s Most Valuable Player in the 2017-18 season. REUTERS
