The NBA is seriously looking into altering the All-Star Game format, potentially moving to a four-team mini-tournament, according to a source familiar with the ongoing discussions relayed to YSL News Sports.

This individual spoke on the condition of anonymity since they weren’t authorized to comment publicly about the competition committee’s meeting held on Friday.

While a final decision hasn’t been made yet, the competition committee—which includes owners, team executives, coaches, and representatives from the National Basketball Players Association (union)—is considering a format that features three teams of eight players (totaling 24 All-Stars) alongside the winner of the Rising Stars game. These teams would engage in a tournament format, with the two semifinal winners facing off in a final match.

Details remain to be clarified regarding the distribution of All-Stars among the three teams and the selection of coaches for each team.

The proposed change aims to inject competitive spirit back into the All-Star Game. Last season, the Eastern Conference triumphed over the Western Conference with a score of 211-186, marking the highest-scoring game in All-Star history. It was also the first occasion a team scored over 200 points during the event.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver’s visible frustration while presenting the All-Star trophy in Indianapolis last February suggested he was dissatisfied with the level of competition, particularly after players expressed the need for a more competitive match.

The league has made some adjustments to the All-Star format in recent years. They introduced a system where the two players with the most votes act as captains to draft their teams, and a targeted score method was applied in the fourth quarter—similar to an Elam ending—to decide the winner.

These innovations had immediate effects but failed to solve the long-term objective of enhancing competitiveness. Earlier this month, during the Mexico City Game, Silver was asked about potential changes to the All-Star Game.

“You had to bring that up. It’s a sore topic. Indeed, we are diligently working on it,” Silver said lightly. “Somewhere in this venue, my colleagues Byron Spruell and Joe Dumars, who oversee basketball operations, are exploring new ideas.

“We’ll be heading to San Francisco (in 2025), home to the Golden State Warriors. We’ve had discussions with Steph Curry about it. Being a home game for him, I know he takes pride in making sure players contribute positively, so we are contemplating different formats.

“Undoubtedly, the players were also let down by last year’s All-Star Game. Everyone wants to enhance the competition and entertainment for our fans.”