KEY POINTS

  • NBA unveils new All-Star Game format 
  • The new format aims to give tribute to Kobe Bryant
  • Fans are divided on the reformat

A new NBA All-Star Game format was unveiled Thursday night. Made for the purpose of elevating the level of competition, the league performed a major overhaul to the highlight of the annual festivities – and it immediately drew mixed reactions from players and fans alike.

“The NBA announced today a new format for the 2020 NBA All-Star Game designed to increase the level of competition throughout the game, provide additional excitement at the finish and make the outcome of every quarter count for charity,” the official announcement wrote.

Under the new format, the two teams, in this case, Team Giannis and Team LeBron, will slug it out to win each of the first three quarters that will be played for 12 minutes, respectively. After this, the cumulative score of the leading team will be the basis of the target score in an untimed fourth quarter. And as the NBA honors the late Kobe Bryant, 24 points will be added to the target score before the squads engage in a points race.

Some fans expressed their excitement about the recent development. Others said that remodeling the exhibition game has been long overdue while the rest agreed that such will indeed bring a better show as teams are expected to engage in a hard-nosed competition. Moreover, it was also said to be modified to give emphasis to the charitable institutions that the NBA is intended to help.

However, it appears that there are more fans who dispute the changes. Most of them said that the new set of rules is too complicated and confusing, which will in the process take away the fun of the game.

The mixed sentiments will certainly not force the NBA to re-evaluate the changes they made. By all indications, it is clear the reformat already set and ready to go. Fans could only hold their fingers crossed and hope that the game will turn out well for them, the players, the charity and for Kobe Bryant.

The 2012 NBA All-Star Game in Orlando lived up to its hype, showcasing the best talents in basketball while being equally dramatic and entertaining for the fans. In the end, however, the Western Conference All-Stars held off a furious rally by the East to
The 2012 NBA All-Star Game in Orlando lived up to its hype, showcasing the best talents in basketball while being equally dramatic and entertaining for the fans. In the end, however, the Western Conference All-Stars held off a furious rally by the East to notch a 152-149 win. Reuters
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