NBA is considering moving to a tournament format for the All-Star Game, AP sources say

The NBA is considering moving the All-Star Game to a tournament-style event, similar to what has been used in the Rising Stars league 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 had been finalized, said the idea had been discussed for several weeks and was discussed further at a race committee meeting on Friday.

The idea revolves around the 24 All-Star selections being split into three teams of eight players, with the fourth team likely to be the winner of the Rising Stars competition held earlier that weekend.

The changes will take effect beginning with this season’s All-Star weekend in San Francisco, which takes place Feb. 14-16.

It remains unclear how the voting process would change. Fans, players and media have been part of a weighted system to choose starters, while coaches have selected reserve players. Under the proposed format, there would be no reserves – so it is likely that all four voting entities would play a role in selecting the group of 24 players.

Also unclear: how choosing coaches would work. Normally, the coaching staffs of the teams leading the Eastern and Western Conferences are invited to coach the All-Star Game – but with three or four teams involved, more coaches may be needed.

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

Commissioner Adam Silver said earlier this month that the league is looking to change the format of the All-Star Game in hopes of making it more competitive. The East defeated the West 211-186 last season, combine for the most points in the game’s 73-year history and it was the first time a team eclipsed 200 points.

“We are looking at other formats,” Silver said on November 2, without indicating what could change. “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.”

The league has tinkered with the All-Star formula several times in recent years. The efforts included scrapping the long-standing East-v.-West format for a draft chosen by team captains and going to an untimed fourth quarter with a target score to ensure the game must have a made shot end.

Last year’s match went back to the traditional format: four full twelve-minute quarters, East versus West. And it was nothing short of an offensive showcase, with the teams combining for 168 three-point attempts.

So this year, the NBA is about to try something new, at least for the All-Stars. The rookie-sophomore game was dropped a few years ago for the Rising Stars tournament, where the top first- and second-year players are divided into four teams. Two teams play, then the other two teams play, and the winners meet to determine the Rising Stars Champion. They are shorter basketball shots, and that may appeal more to the All-Star players than the 48-minute game.

Silver enlisted Golden State star Stephen Curry, among others, to help find a way to make the All-Star Game more competitive this season. Members of the National Basketball Players Association leadership group have been involved in the conversations surrounding the current All-Star changes, the people said.

There were elements added to last year’s All-Star weekend that worked, such as the Curry vs. Sabrina Ionescu 3-point contest that the league is looking to bring back this season – likely adding Caitlin Clark and perhaps Klay Thompson to make it a 2-on-2 format.

“If you look at the interest in terms of viewership last year, one of the highlights was the shootout between Sabrina and Steph,” Silver said earlier this month. “So we want to do more of that.”

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