The NBA is going old school in 2024, with the upcoming NBA All Star game set to switch back to its classic structure.
Following six years of combining the selected players from each conference, the league has decided it’s time to go back to how the NBA All Star game always was — East v West.
As a part of NBA commissioner Adam Silver’s message of getting ‘back to basketball’, the East v West setup that was the basis of the event since 1951 and returns for the first time since 2017, after experimenting with different concepts.
With the reintroduction of the classic concept, changes have also been made to the scoring system, with the traditional four 12-minute quarters replacing the Kobe Bryant-honoured 24-point fourth quarter format.
As the 2024 NBA All Star game approaches, here’s everything you need to know about the showcase event, including predicted lineups for both the Eastern and Western Conference teams.
NBA All Star Weekend 2024 details
WHEN: Monday February 19 (AEDT)
WHERE: Indianapolis, Indiana
The 2024 NBA All Star game marks the 73rd edition of the event, and will be held in Indianapolis, Indiana — the home of the Pacers.
It will mark only the second time the city has hosted the event. However, this time it will be held at an actual basketball stadium — in 1985 it was held at a football stadium (Hoosier Dome).
For American viewers, it will again take place on ‘All Star Sunday’ (Feb 18), with the time yet to be determined. For Australian fans, the main game will be broadcast on Monday February 19.
What are the changes to the 2024 All Star game?
The biggest change for the NBA All Star game in 2024 is the league’s decision to go back to the classic East v West format.
For the past six years, we’ve seen the two conferences combined and split by two captains, who selected their squads from the pool of players through a Draft. But that is now a thing of the past, and fans seemed to be pleased.
Changes have also been made to the scoring system, with it set to look more like a normal game again.
In the past few years, we’ve had three 12 minute quarters, with the fourth quarter a nod to late NBA legend Kobe Bryant; setting a target score of 24-points (his jersey number) from whatever the leading team’s total is heading into the final term.
At the NBA All Star game in 2024, it will stick to the traditional scoring system of a normal game, with four 12 minute quarters.
One thing that has avoided the mass of changes from recent All Star games is that the teams will be competing each quarter for a charitable organisation of their choosing.
What the East and West teams may look like
Each NBA All Star team is made up of 12 players, with obviously five of them being starters.
When it comes to how the teams are selected, fans account for 50% of the vote for the All Star starters selections, while current NBA players and the media split the other half.
Differing from this is the selection process for the 14 reserve players (seven for each conference), with the 30 NBA coaches each voting for players in their respective conferences outside of their own teams.
However, it’s always entertaining to put together what you think both the Eastern Conference and Western Conference teams will look like, and so here at Only Sports, we’ve made our teams as of mid-November.
Here are the guidelines we have followed:
5 starters – 2 guards, 2 front court, 1 centre/front court
7 reserves – 2 guards, 3 front court, 2 wild cards
Western Conference
Starters
G: Steph Curry (GSW)
G: Luka Doncic (DAL)
F: Kevin Durant (PHO)
F: LeBron James (LAL)
C: Nikola Jokic (DEN)
Reserves
G: Devin Booker (PHO)
G: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC)
F: Anthony Davis (LAL)
F: Zion Williamson (NOP)
F: Domantas Sabonis (SAC)
W: Anthony Edwards (MIN)
W: Kawhi Leonard (LAC)
Eastern Conference
Starters
G: Tyrese Maxey (PHI)
G: Donovan Mitchell (CLE)
F: Jayson Tatum (BOS)
F: Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL)
C: Joel Embiid (PHI)
Reserves
G: Tyrese Haliburton (IND)
G: Damian Lillard (MIL)
F: Jimmy Butler (MIA)
F: Jaylen Brown (BOS)
F: Bam Adebayo (MIA)
W: Jalen Brunson (NYK)
W: Scotti Barnes (TOR)
