NBA commissioner Adam Silver mentioned he will “take responsibility” for the lack of interest in fresh NBA All-Star Games. Silver got here to that conclusion after lately talking with Golden State Warriors guard Chris Paul.
Paul published that every one of the pre-game and halftime distractions of the All-Star Game can intervene with gamers’ conventional game-day routines.
“You guys tell us how important the All-Star Game is but then you change all our pre-game protocols so that we don’t go through our typical routines as we would before a game because you have these elaborate introductions,” Silver, paraphrasing Paul, told Andscape’s Marc J. Spears. “No complaint about the introductions. We understand why you do it, but then you expect us then to go out and be in the mindset that we’re playing a typical basketball game.”
According to Silver, Paul mentioned the halftime being longer additionally contributed to the All-Star Game’s enchantment.
“So that’s why I say, I’ll take responsibility for that,” Silver mentioned. “We’re sending mixed signals. And if we want guys to treat this like a real game, and again, this is not about Finals intensity, it’s just a fun game. But if we want players to treat it that way, we have to treat it that way. And so, it means that the introduction is going to have to be a little bit shorter and halftime’s going to have to be a little bit more typical, starting in Indianapolis.”
The 2024 NBA All-Star Game is scheduled to happen Feb. 18 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the house of the Indiana Pacers. Silver expects a extra conventional sport revel in this time round.
In October, the league introduced the 2024 All-Star Game will go back to the Eastern Conference vs. Western Conference layout. The most sensible voted gamers from each meetings would possibly not function captains or draft gamers.
While the Eastern Conference vs. Western Conference layout will go back in 2024, Silver additionally published the 2025 All-Star Game may just pit United States gamers towards world gamers.
“I know we’re busy already planning for new excitement, thinking about what All-Star 2025 will be,” Silver mentioned. “People are out there talking about concepts like a Ryder Cup format — maybe U.S. players playing against global players. We’re looking at all different approaches to All Star — stay tuned.”
The NBA is all the time evolving, and Silver is having a look to make the All-Star Game the most productive it may be.