The NBA announced a new All-Star Game format this Thursday afternoon. This year’s game will be played in a format to honor the legacy of basketball legend Kobe Bryant. Bryant was killed in a helicopter crash on Sunday, January 26th. The crash took the lives of Bryant’s 13-year old daughter, Gianna, along with the lives of seven others.
The NBA announced that All-Star captains Giannis Antetokounmpo and LeBron James will be able to select a Chicago-based charity/organization to donate to. These donations will be broken down by the first three quarters. The team leading at the end of each quarter will have $100,000 donated to their chosen organization, totaling $300,000. The winning team at the end of the fourth quarter will get an additional $200,000 donated to their organization.
The format of this year’s All-Star Game involves a big fourth quarter alteration. The first three quarters will go normally with 12 minute quarters. However, there will be no time limit in the fourth quarter. The game clock will be shut off and the winner will be decided by the Final Target Score.
The Final Target Score will be decided by taking the higher score at the end of the first three quarters and adding 24 points. The 24 symbolizes Bryant’s former number during his career with the Lakers. Whichever team reaches this target score first is the winner. For example, if the score at the end of the third quarter is 102-97, the Final Target Score would be 126. Whichever team reaches that score first wins.
The NBA, players and fans alike, are still dealing with the tragic passing of Bryant and his daughter. Plenty of suggestions have been made online by fans for the league about how to honor his legacy. There is currently a petition with almost 3 million signatures for the league to change the current logo to Bryant’s silhouette.
Some have also suggested that for the All-Star Game one team should wear number 24 and one should wear number 8, both Bryant’s former numbers. While the captains should wear 2, Gianna’s former number. Whether the NBA is going to put these suggestions into place still remains unknown. The changes they have applied already are helping to bring fans closure by keeping the Bryant legacy within the sport.
RIP to all of the victims lost in the tragic accident.
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