NBL All-Star format revealed

The format for the National Basketball League’s (NBL) annual All-Star Game has been revealed, with fans now able to vote for the starters of each team to play in the showcase event at the Sydney Entertainment Centre on Tuesday 27 December.

The Sydney All-Star Game, which is one of the highlights of the Philips Championship season, will bring 20 of the best players from around the league together on the one floor for a gala event.

This season’s All-Star Game will see the return of the popular format introduced last season that featured the Aussie NBL All-Stars versus the World NBL All-Stars. Ten Australian-born NBL players will be selected for the Aussie All-Stars while 10 foreign-born players drawn from the imports and New Zealanders playing in the Philips Championship will represent the World All-Stars.

“The fan feedback we received following last season’s incredibly successful All-Star Game in Townsville was that the game format used was ideal to showcase the league’s best talent and we have therefore opted to once again have the Aussie All-Stars play the World All-Stars,” said NBL Operations Manager Stacey Meadows.

The five starters for each team will be selected by a fan vote with Australian and New Zealand fans able to support their favourite players via either SMS or a 1800 number.

Australian fans can call toll free 1800 894 599 or SMS the name of their favourite Philips Championship player to 1992 7427.

New Zealand fans can call 0800 081 462 and leave the name of their favourite player.

Fans should ensure that they leave the first and second names of the player they wish to vote for (on both SMS and toll free numbers) and can vote as many times as they like. Voting for the starters is now open and runs until 12 noon (AEDT) on 30 November.

A panel of regular NBL media will determine the bench (five players per team) and injury reserves (three per team) for the game.

Head coaches for the match will be the NBL coaches with the best record at the end of Round 12 of the Philips Championship. The coach whose team is in first position will coach the Aussies and the coach in second will be selected to lead the World. One Assistant Coach for each team will be appointed by the League office.

This year’s All-Star Game will also see the return of the immensely popular Slam Dunk Competition. Each team will be asked to nominate a player for the newly-sponsored Philips Dunk Competition. From that list of nominees, the top six players as voted by a poll of fans on the NBL website, nbl.com.au, will determine the final six competitors in the Philips Dunk Competition.