NBA is considering turning the All-Star Game into a tournament

The NBA is seriously considering making the All-Star Game a four-team tournament, sources say ESPN’s Shams Charania.

The proposed changes will take effect beginning with this season’s All-Star weekend, which will take place in San Francisco at the Chase Center, Golden State’s home arena, from Feb. 14-16.

Instead of the typical two teams of 12 players each, the 24 All-Stars would be split into three teams of eight players each, Charania explained. The fourth team would be the winner of the Rising Stars competition. The tournament would consist of two rounds, with the winners of the first round (Team 1 vs. Team 2, Team 3 vs. Team 4) advancing to the finals.

While plans have not yet been finalized, all signs point to the league eventually making the changes, two sources told Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press.Twitter link).

According to Charania, NBA officials discussed the proposed format on Friday with the Competition Committee, which consists of team governors, executives, coaches, players and union staff. The league has been discussing format changes with team officials and players for several months, and the four-team tournament quickly became the most popular plan.

Commissioner Adam Silver declared a few weeks ago, the league was looking for a new All-Star format after last season’s game in Indianapolis was universally panned for its lack of defense and abundance of long three-point shots. The East defeated the West 211-186 in a listless affair, despite a plea from the league director Joe Dumars to take the game seriously and put in a better effort.

“We look at others formats,said Silver. “I think there’s no doubt that the players were disappointed in the All-Star Game last year as well. We all want to do a better job of providing competition and entertainment for our fans.”

As Reynolds writes in a full storythe new format is similar to what has been used for the Rising Stars event in recent years. That four-team tournament includes a target score for both the semi-finals and the final.

What’s less clear is how the All-Star voting process would work, according to Reynolds, who notes it will also likely require at least one additional coach.

Charania hears last season’s hottest All-Star event, the first-ever three-point shootout between the NBA and WNBA between Warriors guard Stefan Curry and the New York Freedom Guard Sabrina Ionescuwill likely return in February, although it could be adjusted to include more players. Sources tell Charania this Outsiders wing Klay Thompson and Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark are among the candidates to join Curry and Ionescu.