NBA Players, Coaches React to All-Star Format Revamp
With the 2017–2018 NBA Regular Season about to start in less than two weeks, fans have already witnessed various changes surrounding the league. Not only will the players sport a new jersey crafted by new outfitter Nike, some will also be playing in new teams after a few blockbuster trades in the summer.
The latest surprise that is making quite a buzz, however, is the NBA's decision to revamp its All-Star Game (ASG) format. ESPN reported that the change drew different reactions from both players and coaches around the league.
Two-time MVP and champion Steph Curry feels the new format gives a new touch to the annual extravaganza. "I think it's great for the game to kind of spice it up a little bit, give the fans a little bit more interest in how the teams are going to unfold," said Curry.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
He hailed the idea of having superstars from the Eastern and Western conferences teaming up and "giving different combinations of guys out there on the floor."
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, on the other hand, believes the ASG can still benefit from a few more tweaks. "I think it really would have been interesting if they would have picked 24 All-Stars total, and not necessarily made it 12 from each side," said Kerr.
Meanwhile, Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Tyronne Lue favors the change, as it will give players and fans something to get excited about. "If you stay in the East your whole career or stay in the West your whole career, you'd never get the chance to play with those guys," Lue noted.
On the flipside, Cavs forward Richard Jefferson was not impressed. He said that the league commissioner should talk to the Players' Association and focus on how to make the ASG more competitive instead of having games with a lopsided score that will zap the fans' excitement.
Last week, NBA.com reported that the league and the National Basketball Players Association decided to introduce a new format for next year's ASG. The new format will now have two team captains from opposing teams, drafting from a pool of players who are voted in by the fans, to create their own teams, regardless of the conference they belong to.
