The most fun weekend in basketball is back as your favourite NBA stars set aside their rivalries and team up for the NBA All-Star Weekend! This year, the showpiece heads to Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, home of the Indiana Pacers, from 16-18 February. Whether you’re an NBA enthusiast or a casual fan, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
- Understanding the NBA All-Star Game Format
- Teams and Players in NBA All-Star
- Iconic Moments in East vs West NBA All-Star History
- How to Get Tickets for the East vs West NBA All-Star Game
- FAQs
Understanding the NBA All-Star Game Format
The NBA All-Star Game pits together some of the top stars of the Eastern Conference against their counterparts from the Western Conference. The starting line-ups for the teams have been selected via a voting process comprised of fans, the media, and current NBA players, with the fan vote being worth 50% and the others 25% apiece. The reserves for each team are voted for by NBA coaches, who cannot select their own players. The game itself will be played over 4 standard 12-minute quarters and use standard NBA scoring rules.
Evolution of NBA All-Star Game Format
While the East vs West format has been the traditional format employed for All-Star Games since their inception in 1951, recent editions had been held quite differently. Since 2017, rather than being divided up by conference, players were selected in a draft by 2 captains – the 2 players who received the most votes. LeBron James was a captain in all 6 of the NBA All-Star Games conducted in this format, opposite Steph Curry, Kevin Durant (twice), and Giannis Antetokounmpo (3 times), winning 5 of those games.
In 2020, an “Elam Ending” was also added to the format, whereby the final quarter did not have a time limit. The game clock was turned off for the 4th quarter, and each team had to reach a final target score determined by the leading team's cumulative score over the first 3 quarters, with the first team to reach the target winning the game. However, 2024 will see a return to tradition and the format of old.
Teams and Players in NBA All-Star
Spotlight on NBA East and West All-Star Teams
The Eastern Conference starting line-up for the 2024 All-Star Game will be as follows:
- Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers
- Damian Lillard, Milwaukee Bucks
- Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
- Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
- Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
Their reserves are:
- Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks
- Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers
- Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers
- Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics
- Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic
- Julius Randle, New York Knicks
- Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat
- Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks
- Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors
Antetokounmpo and Lillard will be making their 8th All-Star appearances, while Embiid will be making his 7th. Celtics forward Tatum will star for the 5th time, while Haliburton will be making just his 2nd appearance.
The Western Conference starting line-up will be:
- Luka Dončić, Dallas Mavericks
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
- Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns
- LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
- Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets
And their reserves are as follows:
- Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns
- Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
- Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
- Paul George, Los Angeles Clippers
- Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers
- Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves
- Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers
James will be making a record-breaking 20th All-Star appearance, while Durant will be appearing for the 14th time. Jokić, Dončić, and Gilgeous-Alexander will be making their 6th, 5th, and 2nd appearances, respectively.
Key Players in the NBA All-Star East vs West Matchup
With such talent and star power on show it can be difficult to pick out key players because they’re all so vital to their respective teams, however it’s hard to look past last year’s captains, Antetokounmpo and James.
In 2023, the Greek Freak became the only captain to inflict defeat on LeBron after the switch to the alternative format in 2018, with his side triumphing 184-175. Tatum’s efforts in that game – which included scoring 55 points and making 10 rebounds – were also instrumental. That broke a 5-year winning streak for NBA legend LeBron, who will be desperate to reclaim his crown.
Iconic Moments in East vs West NBA All-Star History
Whether in the NBA All-Star Game itself or across the wider All-Star Weekend, which includes iconic events such as the Slam Dunk Contest and the Skills Challenge, there have been plenty of iconic moments over the years.
Vince Carter’s Dunk Contest in 2000 will live long in the memory, with the Toronto Raptors man pulling out 360 windmill slams, a between-the-legs dunk, and a honey dip on his way to beating Tracy McGrady and Steve Francis 50-48 in the final round.
That same year, Jason Williams pulled off one of the most audacious passes in NBA history in the Rising Stars Challenge, with a behind-the-back no-look pass off his elbow, a feat he repeated in the Celebrity Game in 2017.
In 2020, the NBA put together a touching tribute to the late, great Kobe Bryant just 3 weeks after his death in a helicopter crash, with James' side donning No. 2 on their jerseys as a tribute to his daughter Gianna, who was also killed in the crash, while Antetokounmpo's team bore the famed No. 24 that Kobe himself wore.
How to Get Tickets for the East vs West NBA All-Star Game
You can find NBA All-Star Game tickets – and tickets to all the events taking place across the All-Star Weekend – through Koobit. Select the event you would like to attend, and then scroll down to see the range of tickets on offer for that event. Koobit compares prices from official suppliers and a range of secondary sellers from across the marketplace so that you can make an informed purchasing decision when picking your seats.
Once you’ve found the tickets you want at a price that suits your budget, click through to the supplier and then add the seats you want to your basket to take through to checkout. Please ensure the supplier’s terms, conditions, and guarantees are to your liking before making the purchase.
FAQs
How Are Players Selected for the East and West Teams?
While the last 6 editions have seen 2 captains utilising a draft to select their respective teams, the 2024 edition will return to the traditional split of Eastern Conference vs Western Conference. The starting lineups are voted for by a combination of fans (who have 50% of the vote), the media (25%), and current NBA players (25%). NBA coaches vote for the reserve players, but they cannot select their own as part of the voting process.
Are There Any Special Events During the NBA All-Star Weekend?
As well as the All-Star Game, the NBA All-Star Weekend is filled with special events for basketball fans to enjoy, from the Celebrity Game to the Rising Stars Challenge. The All-Star Saturday Night, which features competitions including the Slam Dunk and 3-Point Contests and the Skills Challenge, is particularly popular.
What Makes the East vs West NBA All-Star Game Unique?
The NBA All-Star Game is the one time where basketball fans will be able to see all their favourite players on the court all at once, giving fans the chance to see combinations they wouldn’t normally get to see, like LeBron and Kevin Durant teaming up. As an exhibition, the focus of the All-Star Game is on fun!
How Can Fans Participate in NBA All-Star Weekend Activities?
Fans will be able to get a behind-the-scenes look at the preparation for the All-Star Game in the Practice & Media Day. The best way to get involved is the NBA Crossover fan event, taking place this year at Indiana Convention Center, which features interactive activities, meet and greet opportunities, and much more – everything a keen basketball fan could want!
How Much Are NBA All-Star Game Tickets in 2024?
NBA All-Star Game tickets vary over time, but they do tend to be quite expensive. With the All-Star Weekend so close, prices can be expensive, with tickets starting from USD $1,245.