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Photo by Google Images
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For the first time in NBA history the 2018 All Star
Game will not be a matchup between the Eastern Conference and the Western
Conference.
On Tuesday, October 3, the National Basketball
Association and the National Basketball Player Association released a statement
announcing that there will be no more East vs West in the All Star Game and new changes have been made.
With the new All Star Game format players from the
goal is to see top players like Lebron James and Stephen Curry play on the
same team.
This new format will have two captains chosen from the leading fan
votes. The captain will select his team from the players who are voted in as
starters and reserve’s. These players will be chosen regardless of which
conference they come from. Selecting the 24 players will remain the same, 12
players from the east and 12 players from the west. The teams will consist of
10 starters including two guards, which will be selected by a combination of
fan votes, basketball players and basketball media. The 14 reserves will be
selected by head coaches. They will vote for two guards, three front court
players and two players of any position long as it’s from their conference. The
head coaches are chosen based on whichever team chosen by votes had the best
record.
The new changes to the NBA All Star Game format is set
to take place next year before Spring season begins.
Here are how some of the players and members of the
NBA responded to the new All Star Game format:
NBPA President Chris Paul of the Houston Rockets said
he was thrilled with what the players and the league have done to improve the
All-Star Game.
“We’re looking forward to putting on an entertaining
show in L.A.” Paul said
Byron Spruell, NBA President, League Operations, also
said he was excited about the new All Star format.
Stephen Curry says he thinks the change is great for
the game to spice it up a little bit.
“I think it
really would have been interesting if they would have picked 24 All Stars
total,” Steve Kerr said.
However, Richard Jefferson of the Cavaliers isn’t too
thrilled about the new changes. He said he is fed up with what the NBA All Star
Game has devolved to.
It’s really kind of a joke,” Jefferson said.
The 2018 All Star Game voting process is hosted by
Verizon and will begin on Monday December 25 on ESPN, ABC and TNT.
The 2018 All Star Game starters and captains will be
revealed Thursday, January 18, 2018 on TNT. The reserves will be revealed on
Tuesday, January 23, 2018 on TNT.
On Sunday, February
18, 2018 the 67th NBA All Star Game will be held at the Staples Center at 8
p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on TNT.
Tamara Anderson
@mstekeyla
@mahoganymagazin