The NBA All-Star Sport has been trending within the mistaken route for a couple of years now, however it reached a tipping level final season when the Western Convention defeated the Japanese Convention, 211-186, in a recreation that broke quite a few scoring data. 

In response to wide-ranging criticism, the NBA determined to alter issues up this 12 months. As an alternative of a conventional All-Star Sport, Sunday evening’s festivities have been was a mini event that may function 4 groups. The All-Star participant pool was drafted into three groups — Kenny’s Younger Weapons, Chuck’s World Stars and Shaq’s OGs — and they are going to be joined by the winner of Rising Stars, Staff C. 

Sport 1 of the single-elimination occasion will function Kenny’s Younger Stars vs. Chuck’s World Stars, whereas Sport 2 will pit Shaq’s OGs towards Staff C. The winners of these two video games will sq. off within the championship later within the night. In all three video games, the winner would be the first group to achieve or surpass 40 factors.

There can be a $1.8 million prize pool at stake, with every participant on the successful group receiving $125,000. 

Will the brand new format lead to a extra aggressive night? The NBA definitely hopes so, however the gamers themselves aren’t so positive. Throughout All-Star media day on Saturday, stars from across the league shared their ideas on the brand new set-up. Here is what they needed to say:

“Undoubtedly, yeah, [my intention is to go all out],” Wembanyama mentioned. “That is the aim. The aim is to not chill, for positive.

“I suppose possibly it is not one thing I discovered; I suppose it is possibly innate. But it surely was positively inspired in our household’s tradition round sport, after all. I do not know. I simply really feel fortunate to be — that I’ve that may to remain true to myself.”

“I imply, I believe that is most likely why they put this kind of format in, to sort of heighten that sense of pleasure and never eager to be on the mistaken finish of that,” Lillard mentioned. 

“I imply, we’ll see. I believe one factor a few group filled with younger gamers is they are going to come on the market and they are going to play with some power. They’ll play quick. I believe that’ll most likely heighten the competitors. So we’ll see.”

“I am one man on the market,” Gilgeous-Alexander mentioned. “I might like to play — for those who’re asking the place my stance is, I might like to play like a pickup recreation, like we do within the summertime for positive. However I am one man on the market, and I am not about to be the one man diving on free balls.”

“We’ll see. We’ll see,” Durant mentioned. “It is completely different from what we’re used to, however it’s basketball on the finish of the day. I believe guys will go on the market and attempt to play and impress the followers and keep wholesome and provides present.”

“I do not actually know an excessive amount of about it,” Edwards mentioned. 

“I will simply decide up full courtroom and go from there,” Jackson mentioned. “A number of speak about it. I am positive that is, like, the most well liked matter simply due to the previous couple years. I am positive dudes aren’t attempting to lose 40-0, so I will simply decide up full courtroom.”

“Perhaps [it will improve the competitivness],” Jokic mentioned. “We are going to see. I believe it is positively one thing that we have labored to alter and it is value a attempt. We’ll see how the gamers will react and the way it should be.”