Adam Silver Says NBA Will Likely Alter All-Star Game to Be More Competitive
After seeing a new All-Star Game record with 374 combined points in 2017, NBA commissioner Adam Silver wants to see changes to make the game more reflective of the product fans see during the season.
Per Howard Beck, Silver said the All-Star Game "shouldn't be playoff intensity, but guys should be (competing)" during an appearance at the Sloan Sports Analytics Conference.
Beck also noted Los Angeles Clippers star Chris Paul, who is also president of the NBA Players Association, reached out to Silver and said "we need to fix this."
Per ESPN's Kevin Pelton, Silver noted "some change" would likely happen with Paul suggesting potentially "reconvening CBA committee to discuss and possibility of captains drafting teams."
It's no secret players have given less-than-maximum effort during the All-Star Game. Even before the record-setting point total this year, the Western Conference set an individual team record with 196 points in 2016.
This lack of intensity isn't a new trend, though it did reach its peak in 2017 and was highlighted by Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry deliberately falling to the floor in jest when the Eastern Conference had a 4-on-1 fast break so he wouldn't get posterized by Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo.
At the same time, while it's commendable the NBA wants to make the game more reflective of the actual on-court product, this is still an exhibition game in the middle of the season designed for fans to see the biggest stars in one place and be dazzled by the best athletes in the world.
Players aren't trying fully exerting themselves in the All-Star Game because they don't want to risk injury to anyone involved. It's the same discussion that has revolved around the NFL Pro Bowl for years, though there did seem to be more of an effort from players this year.
Silver is smart enough to see something can be tweaked to bring back some of the game's integrity, and having the president of the NBPA in his corner to make those changes will speed up the process.
