Changing the NBA All-Star Game format to a four-team mini-tournament is under strong consideration, a person with knowledge of the discussions told USA TODAY Sports.
The person requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the competition committee’s meeting on Friday.
While no change has been finalized, the competition committee – comprised of owners, team executives, coaches and the National Basketball Players Association (union) – has advanced the idea of three teams of eight players (24 All-Stars total) plus the winner of the Rising Stars game competing in a tournament-style event with the two semifinal winners advancing to a final.
The committee still needs to figure out how the All-Stars would be dispersed among the three teams and who would coach the three teams.
The idea is under serious consideration in order to restore some competitive nature to the All-Star Game. Last season, the Eastern Conference defeated the Western Conference 211-186 in the highest-scoring game in All-Star history. It also marked the first time a team reached 200 points in the game.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver’s body language and exasperated tone when he handed out the All-Star trophy in Indianapolis in February indicated he was unhappy with the competition, especially after hearing from players that the game would be more competitive.
The league has tinkered with the All-Star format in recent years, allowing the two highest vote-getters to serve as captains and pick sides playground style and introducing a targeted score – similar to an Elam ending – to determine the winner in the fourth quarter.
Those ideas had some immediate impact but did not provide the long-term solution of creating a more competitive event. Earlier this month at the Mexico City Game, Silver was asked about All-Star alterations.
“You had to ask that. Such a sore point. Yes, we are hard at work,” Silver said, good-naturedly. “Somewhere in this room is my colleague Byron Spruell and Joe Dumars, who run basketball operations for the league, they are back at the lab – not literally – but they have been thinking about new concepts.
“We’re going to be in San Francisco (in 2025), the home of the Golden State Warriors. We’ve had direct conversations with Steph Curry. It’s a home game for him. I know he’s very prideful and wants to make sure that the players put their best foot forward, so we’re looking at other formats.
“I think there’s no doubt that the players were disappointed as well in last year’s All-Star Game. We all want to do a better job providing competition and entertainment for our fans.”