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[Saba Sports News] The NBA has announced major changes to the format of the 2025 All-Star Game in an effort to boost competitiveness and provide fans with a more engaging experience, following widespread criticism of the last two All-Star Games as some of the least entertaining in history.
Among likely participants, Anthony Davis and Devin Booker expressed dissatisfaction with the new format. Davis revealed that many players share his sentiments, stating, “I don’t know. I don’t really like it. We’ll see how it goes this year and if they change it or not. I think they can go back to East vs. West, but four teams and multiple games? I don’t think a lot of players are gonna like that, personally. But we’ll see.”
Booker shared his preference for preserving the traditional elements of the All-Star Game, emphasizing its nostalgia and heritage. “It’s change, it’s different. I’m more into the nostalgia. I agree with Kev [Durant]; I like East vs. West, with your own team jersey. I like the old jerseys. It’s tough because the All-Star break or right after is when you’re gearing up for the home stretch of the season. Most guys going into the game are already dealing with something. It’s an important part of NBA tradition, but things are evolving, and you just have to take it for what it is.”
The new format divides the 24 All-Stars (12 from each conference) into three teams of eight players, with the winners of the Rising Stars Challenge filling out a fourth team. These four squads will compete in a single-elimination tournament. The semifinals will be played to 40 points, and the final game will go to 25 points.
Additionally, the three All-Star teams will be named after TNT analysts Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley, and Kenny Smith, who will serve as general managers and draft players from the All-Star pool.
The format was introduced to address the decline in competitiveness in recent All-Star Games. The league hopes shorter games will encourage players to maintain high energy levels, rather than coasting through a 48-minute exhibition. However, the initial player reactions suggest resistance to the changes.
Kevin Durant, who openly criticized the new format, was particularly blunt: “I hate it. Absolutely hate it. Terrible. Changing the All-Star Game format is terrible in my opinion. We should just go back to East-West. I think we’ve been trying to recapture the magic of All-Star weekend, but I believe keeping it traditional is the way to go. Still, we’ll see how this works. I might be wrong, but that’s just my opinion.”
The league has been experimenting with ways to make the All-Star Game more competitive for years. In 2020, the introduction of the Elam Ending—a target score to win in the final quarter—led to a highly entertaining game. However, subsequent All-Star Games have failed to replicate that level of intensity.
While the NBA’s latest efforts aim to revitalize the event, early feedback from players suggests skepticism about the changes. Whether this revamped format will succeed remains to be seen, but for now, it appears the players aren’t entirely sold on the idea.