NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 22: Victor Wembanyama (R) poses with NBA commissioner Adam Silver (L) after being drafted first overall pick by the San Antonio Spurs during the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 22, 2023 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
NBA commissioner Adam Silver spoke bluntly on Thursday about the 2025 All-Star tournament format, which drew criticism from just about every corner of basketball media.
“It was a miss,” Silver said. “We’re not there in terms of creating an All-Star experience that we can be proud of and that our players can be proud of.”
The league deviated from its usual East vs. West format this year following a consistent decline in effort and a 2024 All-Star game that ended with a score of 211-186. Instead, it featured a four-team tournament, with the 24 All-Stars being divided into three teams, plus a fourth team of “Rising Stars.” The games were played to 40 points.
Silver said he felt the format was “a little better,” but acknowledged criticisms, including a nearly 20-minute break during the championship game meant to recognize the TNT broadcast team. “It was well-intentioned,” he said. “But I think the long stoppage in play in that final game didn’t work for anyone.”
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Criticism of the NBA format was amplified as a result of the wild success of the NHL’s Four Nations Face Off, which pitted stars from the USA, Canada, Sweden and Finland against each other. Silver alluded to similar nation-based suggestions for the NBA All-Star break, saying, “there are some different national teams that can compete.”
The 2026 Winter Olympics will also take place in February, and could serve as a lead-in to a lucrative All-Star game based on national squads. For now, with a complete retool on the board, the NBA will be looking to make its All-Star festivities a highlight – not an embarrassment.
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