The NBA recently announced a new format for its annual All-Star Game, but Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr would’ve also liked to see a change in who represents the league.
According to ESPN’s Nick Friedell, Kerr said he supports the new style where the leading vote-getter from each conference will serve as a team captain and choose 11 players, regardless of East or West affiliation.
However, both conferences will still have a 12-man contingent. That’s what Kerr would have preferred to see adjusted.
“I think it really would have been interesting if they would have picked 24 All-Stars total. And not necessarily made it 12 from each side. If they really wanted to do it and get the 24 best players, maybe that would have been the way to go.”
Kerr added that he respected the league’s effort to make the All-Star Game more interesting and said the change is good for the NBA.
But he absolutely has a point with the rosters.
For example, Damian Lillard — who received 340,593 votes — could’ve been selected over Kemba Walker (170,299) last season. Lillard was a mere five votes away from doubling up Walker on fan ballots.
The West simply has more top-tier talents than the East, and many basketball fans would enjoy seeing the overall top 24 players rewarded.
Besides, that difference is made clear in fan voting already. Looking at the backcourts of both conferences last season, Kyrie Irving led the East with nearly 1.7 million fan votes, but no other guard had more than 1 million. Compare that to the West, where four guards — Stephen Curry, James Harden, Russell Westbrook and Klay Thompson — topped the 1 million mark.
If the NBA needs another All-Star change in the future, Kerr’s suggestion is definitely the best available alteration.