NBA Contemplating Yet Another New All-Star Format

The NBA can’t go forward with the All-Star Game the way it is now, can it? Most people who care about the game say no.

So the league is looking into a way to make the game look something more like actual basketball — yet again.

“We’ve had direct conversations with Steph Curry — it’s a home game for him,” commissioner Adam Silver told reporters of this year’s game in San Francisco. “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.”

Last year’s game in Indianapolis was blasted for its lack of competitiveness, despite pleas from NBA legends such as Joe Dumars and Larry Bird to put on a decent show. Instead, it was nothing but guys shooting 3-pointers and standing around like mannequins on defense. The NBA, it seems, is hoping to find a balance.

“I think we all did what we thought we could, thinking we would particularly — in Indiana, sort of the heartland of basketball, somehow we would give it the college try, and we’d see a more competitive game,” Silver said. “I think, even if we could turn the clock back and get a bit more of a competitive game, even if it was more of a standard NBA game, I think fans would want more.

“If we can get more participation, not just for the physical activity but for all the values it represents. And I think showcasing those kinds of activities where you see men and women both competing in basketball at All-Star events should increasingly become a big part of it. And incidentally when you look at the interest in terms of viewership last year, one of the highlights was that Sabrina-Steph shootout, so we do want to do more of that.”