The NBA has announced a major overhaul of the All-Star Game, introducing a new “USA vs. the World” three-team format to debut during All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles (Feb. 13) at the Clippers’ new Intuit Dome.
Key Format Changes
- Three eight-man teams will compete — two American teams and one international team.
- Player selection still uses fan, media, and player voting for starters, and coaches for reserves, but positional designations are eliminated. The top five vote-getters overall become starters, and the next seven become reserves regardless of position.
- To maintain balance, Commissioner Adam Silver can add players if the voting doesn’t yield at least 16 Americans and eight international players.
Game Structure
- The first three quarters feature round-robin play between the three teams, with each team playing twice.
- The final quarter becomes a championship game between the two best teams (based on record and point differential if tied).
- Games remain four 12-minute quarters in total.
Broadcast & Scheduling
- The broadcast moves to NBC, marking the network’s first All-Star Game in decades.
- The tip-off shifts earlier to 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT, aligned with NBC’s Winter Olympics coverage, following a Team USA hockey game.
Purpose
The NBA and NBC hope this revamped format — emphasizing national pride and competitiveness — will reignite player engagement and fan interest after years of declining All-Star intensity.