Proposed changes to the All-star game format

[Phoenix]

Surprised this one hasn't gotten a thread yet...

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/new-2025-nba-all-star-game-format-heres-how-the-tournament-style-showcase-is-expected-to-work/

Instead of one All-Star Game, there is expected to be a series of shorter games at the 2025 NBA All-Star weekend. According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the new, tournament-style format will feature three All-Star teams, each with eight players on the roster, and a fourth team -- the winner of the Rising Stars challenge (which has used a tournament format since 2022). The first two games will constitute the semifinals and will have a target score of 40 points; the two winners will advance to the finals, which will have a target score of 25 points, ESPN reported Thursday.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver has repeatedly lamented the quality of play in recent All-Star Games and stated that the league is open to tweaking the format. During his media availability in Mexico on Nov. 2, Silver hinted at something like this by saying the league was looking at not having a "traditional game format" this year.

[Phoenix]

Personally I think this is a dumb strategy, and the idea of manipulating the game to this degree just to get the players to somewhat give a f*ck is pretty sickening.

[Neal Romer]

Theres just no need to have all star games.

They are a relic from a time when even star players had WAY less public exposure. And the guys involved had far less personal contact with each so there was genuine rivalry and even animosity.

Nowadays due to AAU and 24/7 coverage and social media, theyre all friends with each other and theyve all had so much exposure we're sick of em. Nobody wants to see overpaid overexposed loadmanagers doing goofy allstar bullshit. The allstar game is completely without purpose and without necessity.

The league claims to be progressive, youd think theyd be at the forefront of just admitting "we dont need to do this anymore."

Instead theyre trying to Weekend-At-Bernie's a completely dead institution.

[Phoenix]

Agreed, at this point just cancel the damn thing but the league won't because there's still money to be made on that weekend( even if the game competitively speaking has been totally compromised and unwatchable). The Dunk contest is dead save for McClung coming in a few years ago and surprising everyone, but you've got guys like Zion, Ja, Ant-man who've steered clear of it like most stars in recent years. The 3point shoot-out is about the only thing that still generates buzz and worth a watch( was never much into the skills competition).

We say the players are just spoiled and overpaid nowadays, but these guys have been swimming in cash Scrooge McDuck style for years now. They've long been in 'FU' land. When 'exactly' was the line crossed into 'who gives a f*ck' territory?

[Neal Romer]

Agreed, at this point just cancel the damn thing but the league won't because there's still money to be made on that weekend( even if the game competitively speaking has been totally compromised and unwatchable). The Dunk contest is dead save for McClung coming in a few years ago and surprising everyone, but you've got guys like Zion, Ja, Ant-man who've stirred clear of it like most stars in recent years. The 3point shoot-out is about the only thing that still generates buzz and worth a watch( was never much into the skills competition).

They say the players are just spoiled and overpaid so DGAF nowadays but these guys have been swimming in cash Scrooge McDuck style for years now. When 'exactly' was the line crossed into 'who gives a f*ck' territory?


I honestly have a hard time believing theres so much money to be made on the allstar game. Does it really do that much in ratings? Because the overhead costs involved are pretty significant. How much actual profit do they get after paying for all the promotions, the travel, all the arena personnel, players, broadcasters, and then split 30 ways between the teams and everyone at the league office and such? I mean how much profit are they really clearing for this game nobody cares about? Is Kia and Sprite just throwing millions at them to be the car and syrup sponsors for a single game nobody cares about??

It's hard for me to believe the economics here justifies the league caring as much about this as they seem to.

[Phoenix]

I honestly have a hard time believing theres so much money to be made on the allstar game. Does it really do that much in ratings? Because the overhead costs involved are pretty significant. How much actual profit do they get after paying for all the promotions, the travel, all the arena personnel, players, broadcasters, and then split 30 ways between the teams and everyone at the league office and such? I mean how much profit are they really clearing for this game nobody cares about? Is Kia and Sprite just throwing millions at them to be the car and syrup sponsors for a single game nobody cares about??

It's hard for me to believe the economics here justifies the league caring as much about this as they seem to.

I don't know. I would assume the projected revenue from the weekend of events is baked into the TV deals. It's kind of like arguing for the league to shave 10 games off the regular season. Just about everyone thinks its too long and unfocused over 8 months, but they're not going to remove games from the schedule and miss out on hundreds of games worth of gate revenue, broadcasting, advertising etc etc. TLDR; the needs of the game against making money is always going to be a tricky proposition.

[Real Men Wear Green]

Personally I think this is a dumb strategy, and the idea of manipulating the game to this degree just to get the players to somewhat give a f*ck is pretty sickening.

I would give it a chance. I agree that they ideally shouldn't have to figure out a way to get the players to care but this is the reality Silver is dealing with. If we're lucky and it leads to an entertaining product then great. If it doesn't then oh well.

[Phoenix]

I would give it a chance. I agree that they ideally shouldn't have to figure out a way to get the players to care but this is the reality Silver is dealing with. If we're lucky and it leads to an entertaining product then great. If it doesn't then oh well.

I'm of the opinion there needs to be some competitive angle, same as the NBA cup in-season tournament. For the latter, the winner gets guaranteed playoff HCA or maybe even a first round bye. Obviously something like that shouldn't be done for the ASG, I lack the imagination in that context, but I do think they need to offer some 'reason' to compete outside of all these crazy schemes. I keep hearing throw them money, which for all-stars already making 40 million a year is a non-starter in my book ( and how much money would you even offer that's more than pocket change??).

[Phoenix]

Another thought, but with Lebron, KD and Steph as elder statesmen all-stars who are favorite players for alot of the younger talents ( eg KD being Ants favorite player, Lebron being Luka's etc), I wonder why those three in particular aren't having more of an effect setting the tone.

[Meticode]

I like the idea of short games to try to get the players be more competitive, but I'm not sure of the format.

[Duffy Pratt]

How about this: members of the losing team are ineligible for post-season awards, unless a designated curmudgeon (I nominate Jeff Van Gundy) gives the team a thumbs up for effort.

[Phoenix]

I like the idea of short games to try to get the players be more competitive, but I'm not sure of the format.

Why not just make it first to 100? Or given the use of 3s, first to 120. Keep it east vs west, let players wear their team jerseys again.

[90sgoat]

The league is cooked, it's the players not the format. It's going to take a generation after Lebron quits before it becomes competitive again.

If they want to fix the All Star game, just make it US vs World, racism has a tendency to motivate.

[Phoenix]

The league is cooked, it's the players not the format. It's going to take a generation after Lebron quits before it becomes competitive again.

If they want to fix the All Star game, just make it US vs World, racism has a tendency to motivate.

Lebron has been in the last 20 all-star games and he's been in some competitive ones. Not sure why this is being pinned expressly on him what's transpired the last 7-8 years. Maybe it's just that the gen Z stars have a different mindset but that's not just a basketball thing.

[pandiani17]

Theres just no need to have all star games.

They are a relic from a time when even star players had WAY less public exposure. And the guys involved had far less personal contact with each so there was genuine rivalry and even animosity.

Nowadays due to AAU and 24/7 coverage and social media, theyre all friends with each other and theyve all had so much exposure we're sick of em. Nobody wants to see overpaid overexposed loadmanagers doing goofy allstar bullshit. The allstar game is completely without purpose and without necessity.

The league claims to be progressive, youd think theyd be at the forefront of just admitting "we dont need to do this anymore."

Instead theyre trying to Weekend-At-Bernie's a completely dead institution.


I think you are right. Back in the old days the players didn't have so many opportunities to mingle. Nowadays, they are all the time connected, playing summer ball together, etc. For them the All-Star game is not special anymore.

[Nowoco]

The ASG just needs to go, period. No-one wants it, the fans, players, analysts, coaches. It's been horrific for years. They've tried changing the format many times, it doesnt stop the players from not giving a shit.

Keep the rising stars game, keep Saturday night. Maybe add some more sections to that. But the game itself? It's over, let it die.

[Phoenix]

I'm in favor of dropping it too, but here's one final hail mary:

Instead of a mid-season all-star game, what about an all-NBA game in June after the finals? No worry about getting injured and ruining a season( not that this has ever really happened, but that seems to be a concern nowadays). Three all-NBA teams, top two vote getters captain each side and pick 8 man squads( like what they were doing recently with the ASG until last year). You'd need a 16th player so I guess they can be the highest vote-getter who didn't make one of the three teams. Or would playing at the end of the year result in even less incentive to compete?

If the issue is just the innate lack of competitiveness with the players, making the game into a WWE style gimmick match is not a solution, it's a band-aid to a bigger issue. So yeah, if it requires this much manipulation just scrap the game.

[BarberSchool]

I strongly suspect that all but the most delusional “never even played college ball” minds in the meeting that birthed this idea …. Know it’s not a great idea, but push forward with it anyways, for one simple assumption:

If the viewership and engagement isn’t where they want it to be … they think ANY changes, will lure the fickle, braindead followers of trends and change, will tune in simply out of FOMO/desire to judge the change.

They know change whether good or bad drives engagement and interest, from the mindless masses.

Disgusting. Shameful. Unecessary.


Just go back to a simple, CLASSIC, East vs west, a dunk contest with more than 4 contestants. A 3-point shootout, a rookie-sophomore game, and a rock n jock bball jam, but only of people than can actually play basketball fairly well.

[Phoenix]

Just go back to a simple, CLASSIC, East vs west, a dunk contest with more than 4 contestants. A 3-point shootout, a rookie-sophomore game, and a rock n jock bball jam, but only of people than can actually play basketball fairly well.

They did this last year. It's not working because the issue is the players mindset. There's no pride in competition for competition sake unless the chip is at stake. Never mind that they showcase more fire and physicality during Drew league/random summer pick up games, of no affiliation with the NBA, with the possibility of injury and affecting their actual NBA job. Eventually they'll half-ass this latest bullshit scheme, it's very much a throw spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks strategy. Because there is nothing saying the players won't just do the same 3point spam shit within the confines of what they're discussing for this years game.

[L.Kizzle]

Proposed change is dumb.

[BarberSchool]

They did this last year. It's not working because the issue is the players mindset. There's no pride in competition for competition sake unless the chip is at stake. Never mind that they showcase more fire and physicality during Drew league/random summer pick up games, of no affiliation with the NBA, with the possibility of injury and affecting their actual NBA job. Eventually they'll half-ass this latest bullshit scheme, it's very much a throw spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks strategy. Because there is nothing saying the players won't just do the same 3point spam shit within the confines of what they're discussing for this years game.

Since the dunk contest is all about highlight reel slow-mo after the fact from mad angles:

I want a 16-player single elimination dunk contest tourney.
1st round: 16 dunks from 16 players.
2nd round: 8 dunks from 8 players
3rd round: 4 dunks from 4 players
Finals : 2 dunks from 2 players for the trophy.
That’s 30 damn dunks to use in NBA highlight reels, and potentially sneaker commercials and web ads.

Have sneaker companies fight for sponsorship spots.
Special PE dunk contest colorways sold all-star weekend.
Make the prize money a sneaker commercial endorsement.
Guarantee more n!ggas who can throw down some dope shit would participate.

[Meticode]

Why not just make it first to 100? Or given the use of 3s, first to 120. Keep it east vs west, let players wear their team jerseys again.

Feels like the first 80 points will be like all the other all-star games the last twenty years. Which is players not trying.

[Phoenix]

Feels like the first 80 points will be like all the other all-star games the last twenty years. Which is players not trying.

You're probably right. Without a fundamental shift in mindset( good luck with that), it's all likely to go down the same path inevitably.

[John8204]

If it were up to me...

Day 1(Wednesday) - All-Star Draft for 2 teams, Celebrity Game, Old-timers Game
Day 2(Thursday) - All Star Game 12 vs 12
Day 3(friday) - Dunk Contest, 3 Point Contest
Day 4(saturday) - The winning All-Star team splits in 2 and we get 3-3 game, Rookies Game
Day 5(sunday) - 3 Point Exhibition between the winner and legacy shooters, The final All-Star game is 1-1 with the two best players from the two winning All-Star games.
Day 6(Monday) - Hall of Fame announcement

[ralph_i_el]

I think it's a great idea. The vets don't want to lose to the rising stars, so they'll actually play hard. The rising stars have something to prove, so they'll play hard.

[Phoenix]

I think it's a great idea. The vets don't want to lose to the rising stars, so they'll actually play hard. The rising stars have something to prove, so they'll play hard.

Problem is in theory a team of NBA All-stars should blow out a team of rookies. Maybe it better resembles a real game but it shouldn't be all that competitive. And really, most casual fans won't know who the rookies are unless it's some highly touted one( like Wemby) , so how much general interest will there be? I mean the most well known rookie this year is Bronny, who says alot.