Adam Silver Says NBA All-Star Game May Revive East vs. West Format to Be Competitive
NBA commissioner Adam Silver said changes could be coming to the league's All-Star Game to make the product more competitive.
During an appearance on ESPN's First Take, Silver told Stephen A. Smith that the league has “lost sight” of emphasizing the game during the league’s All-Star Weekend and is considering several format changes to the exhibition.
“Maybe a return to something more traditional in terms of how the teams are presented,” Silver explained. “We went to this captain, draft notion but clearly, historically, it was East versus West.”
NBA commissioner Adam Silver is considering a return to the East vs. West format for the All-Star game ???? pic.twitter.com/cmFVbpkrsN
— First Take (@FirstTake) October 18, 2023
“A lot of it comes down to, I think, reinforcing with our players and our teams how important this is for the fans,” Silver continued.
The commissioner added that the league isn't expecting playoff intensity in the game. However, the fans deserve a competitive product like the one previous generations of players provided.
Bob Donnan/USA TODAY Sports
As Silver alluded to, superstar captains (LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo last season) picking players in an All-Star Draft has received more fanfare and attention than the subsequent game—which is supposed to be the centerpiece of the NBA’s midseason showcase.
Some fans might be puzzled by Silver's remarks about competitiveness. Last season's All-Star Game was decided by nine points, while the 2022 edition was a three-point game. Defense has never been an emphasis but in recent years, there has been little intensity between the teams on the court. The league is hoping that representing one of the league's conferences might restore some competitive pride among players.