How many players make the NBA All-Star game?
Like various other elements of the NBA, the All-Star game has also seen its fair share of rule-changing and evolving trends since it was introduced back in 1951. The NBA All-Star game is effectively a mid-season exhibition match between the best players from the Western and the Eastern conference.
In 2017, the traditional method for choosing the two teams was changed into the new NBA All-Star draft system that we see today. Now, the two captains go back and forth and choose from a pool of 22 players that are voted as All-Stars.
In a bid to celebrate the league's long history of basketball in Indiana, the 2024 NBA All-Star Game will see the return of the classic matchup between the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference.
The traditional scoring system with four 12-minute quarters will also return. However, the voting process for NBA All-Stars will stay the same, with 12 players chosen from each conference.
How many players feature in the NBA All-Star game?
Since 2017, the NBA allows fans to choose a pool of 10 starters – two guards and three frontcourt players per conference – with their votes making up for half of the weightage. The other 50% of the weightage is given to current players and the basketball media.
Once the 10 starters have been selected, the 30 NBA coaches select a pool of 14 reserves, including two guards, three frontcourt players, and two players at any position from their respective conferences.
The two players who may be from any position from the respective conferences get a look-in only if the starters/initial reserves get ruled out of the game due to some reason.
On the other hand, each time such a situation arises, the NBA's commissioner, Adam Silver, selects a replacement option from the same conference.
This time around, the All-Star draft date is yet to be decided, although the game is set to take place on 18th February 2023. The All-Star Weekend will encompass three total nights of events from Feb. 16-18, 2024. Hence, a total of 22 players feature in the NBA All-Star game, with two more named as replacements in the case any other players are ruled out.