The NBA has established a prize pool of 1.8 million dollars to incentivize the intensity of the tournament, with 125,000 dollars allocated to each player of the winning team. Although this amount may seem insignificant for players like Stephen Curry or Nikola Jokic, it is a significant sum for rookies and players on two-way contracts, who could triple their annual income if they achieve victory.
Commissioner Adam Silver, disappointed with the spectacle of 2024, has approved significant changes. Instead of the traditional four-quarter game, a three-game tournament will now be played, with semifinals and a final. Each game will be decided with a 40-point limit in a 'pick-up' style, in an attempt to make the event more competitive. Additionally, teams that are eliminated in the semifinals will receive 25,000 dollars, a significant amount for G-League players.
The spectacle will not be limited to the mini-tournament on Sunday, February 16, as this Saturday will feature the traditional skills, three-point, and dunk contests. Sunday's semifinals will feature teams led by legendary figures like Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, Shaquille O’Neal, and Candace Parker.
With these modifications, the NBA hopes to bring intensity and spectacle back to the All-Star Game, encouraging competitiveness in an event that had lost its essence. The 74th edition of the NBA All-Star Game will present an innovative format at the Chase Center in San Francisco, aiming to revitalize an event that had lost excitement in recent years.
In the Skills Challenge, Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley will face off against Chris Paul and Victor Wembanyama, while the three-point contest will feature Jalen Brunson, Cade Cunningham, Damian Lillard, and Buddy Hield. The dunk contest will spotlight Matas Buzelis and Stephon Castle, who will seek to regain the impact of previous editions.
The new format also includes a change in team composition, which promises to add excitement and competition to the event.
