The NBA All-Star Game could have a drastically altered look with changes being considered for the league’s showcase weekend at San Francisco in February.
ESPN reported Friday that a four-team format is being considered for a mini tournament that would be conducted throughout the weekend.
Instead of the traditional East vs. West format, NBA All-Stars would be divided into three teams. Those teams would wait for the winner of the Rising Stars Game to fill out the four-team field, with a semifinal and final round.
The report indicated that the NBA has considered the plan for at least six months.
The competitive nature of the game has been in question for some time, with the All-Star Game itself getting a rules tweak in recent years. From 2020-23, the game was played to a target score in the fourth quarter, but that format was abandoned last season.
Last year’s All-Star Game at Indianapolis was of particular concern after the Eastern Conference earned a 211-186 victory over the Western Conference. It was the first time in All-Star Game history the winning team amassed 200 points, while the 397 total points was a game record.
Also under consideration is the expansion of the 3-point shooting contest that occurred between Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors and Sabrina Ionescu of the WNBA’s New York Liberty that was won by Curry. Former Warriors sharpshooter and current Dallas Mavericks player Klay Thompson could be added to that format along with the Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark.