The National Basketball League is shaking the table!
The league announced a drastic change in the annual All Star basketball game on Tuesday, October 3, opting out of the traditional East vs. West format to electing the player with the most votes in each conference as the captain, who will take turns choosing the rest of their teams, regardless of their team’s conference, playground style.
If these rules applied in last year’s All Star game, Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James- who received the highest total in the Eastern Conference and Golden State Warrior’s player Stephen Curry, who received the most in the West, would have served as the team captains.
What hasn’t changed is the process of selecting the team’s reserves; five players from each conference will be selected as starters; the fan vote is worth 50%, player vote worth 25% and media vote worth 25%. The seven reserves for each team will be picked by each conference’s respective head coaches.
“I’m thrilled with what the players and the league have done to improve the All-Star Game, which has been a priority for all of us,” said NBPA President Chris Paul and guard of the Houston Rockets in the official NBA statement. “We’re looking forward to putting on an entertaining show in L.A.”
TNT will reveal the All-Star Game starters and captains on Thursday, Jan. 18. Reserves will be announced on Tuesday, Jan. 23. NBA All-Star Voting 2018 will begin on Christmas Day.
The drama will all be for a good cause, as well, as each team will select a Los Angeles-based charity where game donations will be gifted.
The 2018 All Star game will take place on February 18 in Los Angeles at the Staples Center.
