15 November 2024 18:09 • Last Update: 15 November 2024 18:09

Golden State Warriors teammates Buddy Hield (left) and Stephen Curry celebrate after Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leaves the court in the second half of Sunday’s game in Oklahoma City. (Nate Billings/AP Photo)

The NBA is considering a tournament-style event for the All-Star Game similar to the one used for the Rising Stars competition in recent years, two people with knowledge of the plan said Friday.

The people, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because no changes have been finalized, said the idea has been discussed for several weeks and was also discussed at the competition committee meeting on Friday.

The idea centers around dividing the 24 All-Star selections into three teams of eight players; the fourth team will likely be the winner of that weekend’s Rising Stars competition.

The changes will take effect starting this season’s All-Star weekend, Feb. 14-16 in San Francisco.

It remains unclear how the voting process will change. Fans, players, and media became part of a weighted system in selecting starters and coaches in selecting reserves. There will be no backup in the proposed format; therefore, all four voting organizations will play a role in selecting the 24-player group.

Also unclear: How coach selection will work. Typically, the coaching staffs of the teams leading the Eastern and Western Conferences are invited to coach the All-Star Game; However, now with the participation of three or four teams, more coaches may be needed.

ESPN first reported the idea of ​​the change on Friday.

Commissioner Adam Silver said earlier this month: He said the league wants to change the format of the All-Star Game in hopes it can become more competitive. The East defeated the West 211-186 last season. Merge for the most points It was the first time in the 73-year history of the game that a team surpassed 200 points.

“We’re looking at other formats,” Silver said on Nov. 2, without specifying what might change. “There’s no doubt the players were disappointed in last year’s All-Star Game. “We all want to do a better job of providing competition and entertainment to our fans.”

The league has made changes to the All-Star formula several times in recent years. These initiatives included canceling the long-standing East-West format for a draft selected by team captains and going to an untimely fourth quarter with the target score to ensure the game would end on a field goal.

Last year’s match reverted to the traditional format; Four full quarters of 12 minutes, East-West. This was nothing short of an offensive showcase as the teams combined for 168 three-point attempts.

So this year the NBA is on the verge of trying something new; At least for All-Stars. The rookie-sophomore game was canceled a few years ago because of the Rising Stars tournament, in which the top first- and second-year players were split into four teams. Two teams play, then the other two teams play, and the winners meet to determine the Rising Stars champion. Shorter durations of basketball may appeal to All-Star players more than a 48-minute game.

Silver enlisted Golden State star Stephen Curry, among other players, to find a way to make the All-Star Game more competitive this season. Members of the National Basketball Players Association leadership group are participating in discussions regarding the current All-Star changes, sources said.

There were useful elements added to last year’s All-Star weekend; Curry 3-point contest against Sabrina Ionescu What the league wants to bring back this season; possibly turning it into a 2-on-2 format with the participation of Caitlin Clark and perhaps Klay Thompson.

“When you look at last year’s attention in terms of viewership, one of the highlights was the Sabrina-Steph conflict,” Silver said earlier this month. he said. “So we want to do more of that.”