This year’s All-Star weekend main event, the All-Star Game, will take place on Sunday. The selected All-Stars will be divided into three teams: Team World, Team Stars and Team Stripes.
Start time and TV schedule
What: NBA All-Star Game
When: 2 p.m. PT, Feb. 15
Where: Intuit Dome
Watch: NBC, Peacock
This year’s All-Star Game will feature a format that many have been clamoring for over the years: a game between American and international superstars. It’s one way the league is attempting to revive the All-Star Game, which has frankly been a brutal watch over the last couple of years. Even Adam Silver admitted it.
So this year, the All-Star Game will see a three-team round-robin tournament. There will be four games, each 12 minutes long. Each team will play each other at least once and the top two that prevail will advance to the championship round. Note that Team World’s roster is stacked with international All-Stars while 16 American All-Stars are spread between Team Stripes and Team Stars.
The Lakers superstars, LeBron James (Team Stripes) and Luka Dončić (Team World), will be on different teams, so it’ll be fun to watch them go at it. It would also be nice to witness one of them bring home the All-Star Game MVP, which hasn’t been awarded to a Laker since Kobe Bryant won it back in 2011.
But more importantly, it would be ideal to see an entertaining All-Star Game, especially with this new format. This year’s All-Star weekend could use a little more excitement and frankly, it’s about time the main event becomes one that’s worth watching.
Notes and Updates:
- James — who didn’t address the media during player media availability on Saturday — will do so prior to tip-off on Sunday. Given how he’s approached the All-Star Game over the past few years, there could be a chance that he doesn’t suit up.
- Luka is expected to suit up, but only play for a short stint after missing the last four games for the Lakers.
- Here’s a preview of what each team’s jersey kits look like for the All-Star Game:
- In case you missed Jaxson Hayes in Saturday night’s Slam Dunk contest, you can read all about that here.
You can follow Nicole on Twitter at @nicoleganglani.