Adam Silver and NBPA to ask players to compete in NBA All-Star game amidst growing criticism
Commissioner Adam Silver is banking on the new format to bring excitement back to the NBA All-Star game this weekend.
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Adam Silver and NBPA to demand competition from NBA All-Star game
There was a time when the NBA All-Star game was a matter of pride. Players took the battle seriously and competed until the final whistle. Tales from those competitions are part of NBA folklore. Now Adam Silver is facing another kind of folklore that could threaten the future of these games.
Over the past few seasons, the All-Star game have become a bore fest. Players take the game way too casually which has led them to ignore defense all together. They do not want to get fatigued or injured as their focus is on the regular season and the playoffs.
Last season in particular, fans felt Charles Barkley and Draymond Green‘s Alt Cast sideline commentary was more entertaining. Fans found the game extremely boring and felt that other activities from the All-Star weekend outshined it.
That also brought out scathing attacks from noted individuals. They felt that these players are obliged to give the fans a show. Now as the 2025 NBA All-Star weekend is on Sunday, Adam Silver and stakeholders are stepping in, as Chris Haynes revealed.
League sources inform me that the league and the players union will address the All-Star players on Sunday prior to the All-Star game on the importance of competing and putting on a show for the fans.
Chris Haynes said
Sources: The league and players union to meet together with players on Sunday prior to All-Star Game to highly stress the importance of competing for fans and for the business. #haynesbriefs
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) February 14, 2025
Sponsored by @Nuna_USA pic.twitter.com/Zpvetlbso4
The NBA Insider added that they will be looking to reinforce the fact that the fans and the business need these players to perform. With continuously declining viewership, the NBA can ill afford to have a bland shootout in what should be the biggest game of the regular season.
NBA brought in new All-Star game format to improve competition
The NBA is introducing a new format for its All-Star game this season. They divided the twenty-four All-Stars into three teams. The Inside the NBA crew selected the teams based on certain criteria. Shaquille O’Neal‘s OGs comprise of the veterans.
Kenny Smith selected the Young Stars from the roster, and Charles Barkley selected the Global Stars. In addition to these teams, Candace Parker will head a third team, the Rising Stars, which will essentially be the winning team from the Castrol Rising Stars game.
The first game will see the Young Stars take on the Global Stars. The second game will see the veterans take on the rookies and sophomores. In each of those games, the team that reaches 40 points first will be the winners.
The winners from each game will move on to the final to battle for the biggest pie out of a $1.8 million prize pool. Players from the winning team will receive $125,000 each, whereas second place finishers will earn $50,000 each. Third and fourth place teams will pocket $25,000 each.
The NBA created this method to improve competition. Hopefully it all works out as the league desperately needs its players to bring back the competition from old times. If this payout as well as the words from Adam Silver and the NBPA do the trick, the NBA could see a momentum change.
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Joseph Varghese
(2484 Articles Published)