NBA considering major change to All-Star Game

Per Charania and Vorkunov, the NBA began discussing the format change (among other potential concepts) at the recent Board of Governor and GM meetings following the 2023 All-Star Game in Salt Lake City, Utah. 

The NBA has tried multiple times to liven up the All-Star Game. In 2020, the league implemented the controversial Elam Ending to score the game and let captains LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo pick their teams on the court this year. The bells and whistles have yet to draw more eyes to the annual event, though. According to Sports Media Watch, only 4.59 million viewers tuned in to the 2023 All-Star Game, down from 6.28 million for 2022's game in Cleveland. 

Returning to the old method of pitting conference foes against each other would be a welcome change and one the NBA should not have abandoned in the first place. 

It is uncertain if the change would include a throwback to players donning their team's jersey in the yearly showcase. As beautifully nostalgic as it might be to see each player representing their respecctive squad, it's doubtful the NBA will pass up the opportunity to cash in on that sweet All-Star jersey money. So, a return to normalcy with an East vs. West battle will have to do.