By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Returning to Team East versus Team West format shaped the latest rewind to the NBA All-Star Game. The 2024 edition of the exhibition game was the first since 2017 to directly pit the best players of the Western and Eastern Conferences against each other.
Diving deeper into the history of the All-Star Game, Kevin Durant wishes players can return to wearing their respective team jerseys.
“I like East and West always. I like playing conference versus conference, the traditional way that I grew up on. Hopefully, we go back to playing in our own jerseys too,” he said after the 2024 All-Star Game in Indianapolis, “Traditional way, the way that the picking teams, all that stuff, it doesn’t matter. It’s all about the product on the court and celebrating the best players in the league at that moment.”
Special All-Star looks have been the case since 2003. The 2002 All-Star Game was the last to feature players with jerseys of their own NBA teams.
In his 14th All-Star Game outing, the Phoenix Suns forward registered 18 points, five assists, five rebounds, and two steals for Team West in a losing display to Team East. New records for the most points scored by one single team, the most points scored by both teams and the most three-pointers were set in Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
“Hard to play defense when somebody is shooting 30-, 40-footers. Great display of shooting tonight. Record-setting points was pretty cool,” reacted Durant.
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