The NBA has finally made some long-needed All-Star Game changes to infuse the play with more competition and entertainment. On the heels of draft reform, the league tweaked the annual event after the players proved last year that they had ceased all effort during the game. Stephen Curry falling to the ground before a Giannis Antetokounmpo dunk was the nail in the coffin for many.
The new All-Star Game format.
The All-Star Game won't pit the Eastern Conference vs. the Western Conference anymore. Players selected to the game will be drafted onto teams by two captains—the leading vote-getters from each conference.
Like tradition dictates, the starters will continue to be chosen by the fans, along with input from the players and media. Those ten all-stars will be first off the board. The final 14 players, chosen by the NBA head coaches, will be drafted subsequently.
Professional sports leagues loathe to make big sweeping changes, so the fact that the NBA made any alterations is a pleasant surprise. But like with the draft—they didn’t go far enough.
The selection of All-Star players.
Twelve players will still be selected from each conference, which means a lot of marquee names will miss the cut in the West. All rankings and lists are subjective, which means they’re flawed—especially before a season starts.
But ESPN came out with their list of the top 100 NBA players for the 2017-2018 season. The top ten in that list does offer a glimpse into the talent disparity between the Eastern and Western Conference.
Eastern Conference
#1 - LeBron James Cavs
#9 - Giannis Antetokounmpo Bucks
Western Conference
#2 - Kevin Durant Warriors
#3 - Kawhi Leonard Spurs
#4 - Stephen Curry Warriors
#5 - Russell Westbrook Thunder
#6 - Anthony Davis Pelicans
#7 - Chris Paul Rockets
#8 - James Harden Rockets
#10 - Draymond Green Warriors
If you think it gets better from players 11-30—it doesn't.
Thirteen of the next 20 ranked players are also from the West. Whether it's the All-Star Game, regular season, or playoff format, the league office needs to reduce the competitive gap between the conferences. Fans deserve to see the best vs. the best throughout the season.
The All-Star Game changes were made to address the competitive aspect of the game.
NBA traditionalists may not like the modifications, but the level of play needed to be increased. Maybe the underlying animosity of an All-Star being chosen last or behind someone less talented will bring up the overall effort—just a little, which may make the game ultimately more entertaining.
