The new NBA All-Star format has certainly caused a stir across the league. Several have expressed mixed emotions along with distaste. Not just fans, NBA players have also shared their takes on the newer and more competitive format that will be seen in Chase Center in San Francisco. Why is there such criticism against the format? Gilbert Arenas, who can be counted among the people from the latter, dissected the real reason behind it.

During the latest segment of The Gils’ Podcast Show, the retired NBA star opened up about his belief that the new format is less likely to be praised by the elite players. The reason, according to him, is how players worked hard earlier in the league to earn a spot in the NBA All-Star. 

Arenas argued, “It took them a great season. It took them whatever their record is to actually be chosen out of the top 24. Then you got another 24 that’s coming in that hasn’t earned the stripe of that game.” “There’s eight players who ain’t earned the right. Like, you motherf***er play on Saturday for a reason. Why do they keep doing that? Now you get to play on Sunday with the big boys? That’s disrespectful. That’s disrespectful to everybody,” he added.

The former Golden State Warriors star further argued that the only one who would have gotten through voting would be Victor Wembanyama. And he isn’t aware of the others. Is he right? The NBA All-Star’s new and different format will be a one-night event with four teams. Three teams are made up of eight All-Star players each, while the fourth team consists of the winners of the Rising Stars Challenge for first- and second-year players (rookies and sophomores). In every game, the first team to score 40 points will win.

The event will take place on February 16, while the Rising Stars Challenge is on February 14. Speaking of the new format, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said, “I think we’ve come to terms that modern All-Stars are in part about competition, but ultimately they’re about entertaining the fans and creating a strong experience for them.” Arenas isn’t the only one. Kevin Durant and many more have expressed a similar sentiment earlier.

What does LeBron James think about the NBA All Star?

After last year’s event, where the winning team scored 211 points and fans’ complaints were evident, the league reconsidered the NBA All-Star event format. Lakers star LeBron James also expressed the need for a change. However, he seemingly appeared skeptical about the All-Star format.

“Something had to change. Obviously, the last couple of years haven’t delivered the excitement fans expect. We’ll see how this plays out. Change always brings mixed reactions, but you’ve got to try something different,” James noted. James’s teammate Anthony Davis had a very clear understanding and openly expressed his distaste. In a FOX Sports’ Melissa Rohlin, Davis said, “I don’t really like it. But we’ll see how it goes this year and see if they change it or not.”

Kevin Durant was also among the stars who weren’t appreciative of the new format. He seemingly preferred the previous format and said, “I hate it; I absolutely hate it. Terrible — All-Star Game format changing, all the formats — terrible in my opinion. We should just go back to East-West. Just play a game.” What do you think of the new format?