The NBA is doing things a little different with the All-Star game this year, most notably it won't be the East vs. West. Instead, the two players who receive the most fan votes in each conference will be named captains, and will then select their teammates out of the pool of All-Stars.
Most NBA fans were excited to see which All-Star would be selected first, who would be selected last, etc. but, unfortunately, it turns out the draft won't be televised at all.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver explained that while it would be more fun to have a televised draft he opted against it because it will put the players "in an impossible position, where they're picking one player over another." That's exactly why fans were excited for this style of All-Star game, to see how awkward it might get during the draft, but I regress.
Silver explains (H/T Bleacher Report),
"Should there be a public selection? Yes, it would be more fun if we had that kind of draft. On the other hand, I recognize that in picking a team to perform in the here and now, it's a little different than drafting. There was a sense from the players that it put them in an impossible position, where they're picking one player over another—in part, not because they necessarily think that player is better than another player, maybe because they have a personal relationship with the player. Invariably, if they just did it as a pure draft, guys would say, 'Oh, I can't believe such and such was selected before that player'...
"The goal was to improve the All-Star Game, not put a cherry on top of the cake."
Some All-Stars, like LeBron James and John Wall are opposed to the All-Star draft being secretive.
"We're all grown men," LeBron James said, per Cleveland.com's Joe Vardon. "It doesn't stop your paycheck from coming. It won't stop you from playing time when the season starts."
"I think it should be televised," John Wall told NBC Sports Washington's Wizards Tipoff podcast. "If you made the All-Star Game, it should be televised who is going to be on what team. I don't think you should call them and then wait until everybody sees who will be an All-Star. They should let it be known. We're grown men, like [LeBron] said. If they ain't pick you, they ain't pick you."
Fans may vote may vote for 10 unique players per day from now until January 15th. The All-Star starters, including the two captains will be announced on January 18th at 6pm ET on TNT. The reserves, selected by the NBA head coaches, will be revealed on January 23rd at 6pm ET on TNT.
The final rosters will be announced on January 25th at 7pm ET on TNT.
You can check out Adam Silver's comments on the subject below.
https://twitter.com/_/status/951261984330211328
