It’s a new format for the NBA All-Star Game on Sunday night from San Francisco with now four teams in the competition, and the one with legends LeBron James and Steph Curry is favoured to win on the NBA odds.

Here’s an in-depth explanation of the new NBA All-Star format.

Will Defence Be Played?

The NBA’s version of an All-Star Game used to be arguably the best of the four major North American sports leagues, but much like the NFL’s Pro Bowl – that actual game has seen been eliminated – it now is a no-defence exhibition game where players aren’t putting forth much effort to win.

There has been a murmur to do something with this game for a few years and it got blaringly loud after last season’s ridiculous 211-186 victory by the Eastern Conference over the West. That was the first East vs. West All-Star Game since 2017 as the previous versions had been two teams chosen by captain’s – LeBron James was one all of those years with Steph Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kevin Durant as opposing captains over that span.

One good thing about NBA commissioner Adam Silver is that he’s not afraid to take big swings – especially if his product is struggling on television, and ratings have been plummeting for the All-Star Game. The NBA Cup has worked out pretty well so far. 

So he led this year’s change: Three teams of eight made of up of NBA All-Stars and the fourth will be the club that wins Friday night’s Rising Stars Game – so, guys either in their first or second year in the league. The three NBA teams were drafted by TNT analysts and former NBA stars Shaquille O’Neal (Shag’s QGs), Charles Barkley (Chuck’s Global Stars) and Kenny Smith (Kenny’s Young Stars), and WNBA legend Candace Parker is the honorary boss of the G League team (Candace’s Rising Stars). 

Semifinal Matchups

All three games in the tournament are played first one to 40 points (or better). The first game Saturday night features Kenny’s Young Stars vs. Chuck’s Global Stars, and the second game featuring Shaq’s OGs vs. Candace’s Rising Stars. Then those winners face off, and I expect both favourites to advance. On the outright tournament odds, Team Shaq is +105, Team Chuck +185, Team Kenny +480 and Team Candace +900. I don’t think Team Candace has any shot to win its first game much less the tournament. Bunch of young guys against the NBA’s best? Also note that team Candace doesn’t have second-year superstar Victor Wembanyama, already a top-five player in the league. That’s because he was named an All-Star and is on Team Chuck. Wemby is joined by three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic, this season’s likely winner in Toronto native Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and former Raptor Pascal Siakam. Scarily enough, that team also included former MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, but he’s out injured and was replaced by Trae Young. Team Shaq is more of the old guard with LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and Damian Lillard among the eight. 

All-Star Game Winner Prediction

Team Shaq & Team Chuck advance, Team Chuck wins