The NBA is considering changes to the All-Star Game format, with discussions underway about moving away from the traditional style. Commissioner Adam Silver shared this update on Saturday night, indicating that the league is exploring new possibilities for the event set to take place in San Francisco later this season.
“We’re looking at other formats,” Silver stated, though he did not elaborate on specific alterations. He acknowledged that players were disappointed with last year’s All-Star Game, expressing a collective desire to enhance both competition and entertainment for fans.
Silver noted that the league aims to create a format that strays from conventional gameplay, but he refrained from detailing what that might entail.
In recent years, the league has experimented with the All-Star Game structure, including the shift from the classic East vs. West matchup to a draft format led by team captains. They also introduced an untimed fourth quarter with a target score to ensure the game concludes with a successful shot.
Last season returned to the traditional format, featuring four full 12-minute quarters in an East vs. West showdown. This resulted in an event heavily focused on offense, with teams launching 168 three-point attempts and nearing 400 points collectively.
“Obviously, it wasn’t high intensity, at all,” remarked Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton after the game in Indianapolis, where five players scored 30 or more points, and Karl-Anthony Towns impressively netted 50 points off the bench.
Silver mentioned that the All-Star Game is not expected to replicate the intensity of playoff matches. He revealed that league executives Byron Spruell, Joe Dumars, and Evan Wasch have formed a committee dedicated to discussing potential changes with team representatives and the players’ association.
“We want to do something that will excite the fans and also excite the players, so it’s something they’ll be enthusiastic about playing in,” Silver concluded, highlighting the importance of keeping both players and fans engaged in the All-Star experience.
