New format changes
Of course, this year’s All-Star Game will bring some new changes to how the game is being played and more importantly, scored.
First, each one of the first, second and third quarters will be played as an individual game and the leading team of each period will be awarded to $100,000 to the charity of their choice. Both Antetokounmpo and LeBron James announced during the All-Star Draft that they’d be playing for After School Matters and Chicago Scholars, respectively.
For the fourth quarter, the cumulative score will be brought back and they will introduce the Elam ending with a nod to the late Kobe Bryant by adding 24 more points to the leading team’s score to have a target score. And TNT announced earlier this week that the final period will be commercial free.
That won’t be the only way the All-Star Game will be honoring Bryant as both teams will be wearing numbers 2 and 24 in honor of the Los Angeles Lakers legend and his departed daughter, Gianna. And NBA commissioner Adam Silver announced during his State of the League address Saturday night that the All-Star MVP trophy will now be named the Kobe Bryant MVP award.
Antetokounmpo approved of all the touches to Bryant’s memory and the format changes that will hopefully spark some new life in the All-Star Game as Michael C. Wright of NBA.com relayed:
"“The format is amazing,” Antetokounmpo said. “It makes you want to play hard and compete against one another. Each quarter you have the opportunity to win, and it makes it way more competitive. But wearing 24 and LeBron wearing number two, it’s a big honor. I wouldn’t want it any other way representing Kobe and Gigi in tomorrow night’s game.”"
You can catch the action for this year’s NBA All-Star Game when it tips off at 7 p.m. central time on TNT where it will be nationally broadcasted.