Warriors embrace change to All-Star Game format

If a captain, Curry said he’d pick mates

SHENZHEN, China — The platform has suddenly expanded for Stephen Curry, whose power extends even beyond his sharpshooting and activism. The Warriors’ guard will have a significant say on who plays in the 2018 NBA All-Star game.

The two captains will draft the 2018 All-Star teams from a pool of players voted as starters and reserves without any regard for conference affiliation. And it seems like a foregone conclusion who those captains would be.

“My guess it would be LeBron (James) and Steph because (they’re) so popular worldwide,” Warriors guard Klay Thompson said before practice Wednesday at Shenzhen City Arena. “But it’s pretty exciting. It’s cool the NBA is throwing something new out there.”

Curry does not exactly see the change as something new, though.

“It’s the playground type dynamics when you used to pick your teams growing up and used to play with open gym,” Curry said. “There’s a lot of ways you can go. It should be fun to see how it plays out to see who picks the teams.”

Curry has a unique responsibility as an expected captain. He already plays for an All-Star team that features himself, Thompson, Kevin Durant and Draymond Green in the starting lineup. As Thompson joked, “I hope he picks us.” And if Curry does not? “Definitely they’d be very upset if I don’t,” Curry said.

Hence, Curry said he will choose his Warriors teammates to basically represent the next All-Star team.

“I think it’ll be interesting and hopefully something that will be great fun for the fans to follow to see how the team unfolds,” Curry said. “It’ll obviously be a totally different look once we get on the court and see East guys with West guys and a different kind of setup. It should be fun to see how it plays out. Obviously for the fans, it switches it up and makes the game more interesting and the storylines more interesting.”

The NBA has never lacked for interesting storylines, with the Warriors’ entertaining style of play, the league’s dynamic personalities and constant player movement. Last year’s NBA All-Star game did not attract as much buzz because of its nonexistent defense and emphasis for top players to log limited minutes for rest purposes.

Afterward, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver sounded open toward changing the AllStar Game. The league and its players union made sure that happened.

“I think it’s great and it adds more excitement,” Green said. “I think the last All-Star Game was pretty boring.”

The next one takes place at Staples Center in Los Angeles on Feb. 18. Each team will select an LA-area charity or national organization where donations will support local efforts. And Thompson observed, “they made the changes partly because the West is going to be so stacked this year.”

“It’s an All-Star Game; I’ll choose anybody,” Durant said. “I close my eyes and pick any of those guys and we’ll be good.”