NBA All-Star Game 2023
The NBA All-Star Game, much like the league, has transformed itself over the last few years, and the change has been for the better. No longer is this a no-defense, all alley-oops scoring exhibition. They’ve certainly raised the level of play expected of an All Star event, and everyone has noticed, including sports fans and sports gamblers alike. Don’t get me wrong; there are still plenty of alley-oops and a lack of defense being played; however, the teams are definitely playing to win.
This newfound enthusiasm for the All-Star weekend coincides with some rule changes, as the teams are now built by “captains” from each of the conferences. The All-Stars who are voted on by the fans are then chosen and drafted by the captains to play on a team. This has definitely stoked the competitive spirit in the league, as the games have been much closer and more enjoyable. Of course, the gambling public was quick to join in on the fun, and, all of a sudden, the NBA All-Star game is now a legitimate opportunity for sports bettors. The days of just taking the over and hoping for the best are gone. When it comes to betting the NBA All-Star game, you now have options.
Team LeBron vs Team Durant Vegas Odds
- Spread X.X
- To Win XXX
- Total X.XX
- Spread X.X
- To Win XXX
- Total X.XX
NBA All-Star Players and Coaches
The game is certainly one that no NBA fan will want to miss as it is an unprecedented chance to see some of the best players in the league playing on the same team. The break in fixtures also ensures that both teams can take it seriously, while the winning side will be able to separate the prize pot for their selection of charities. The game does as much for the sport in general as it will for the egos of the players on the court.
The draft for the game itself has also become a hugely popular event for fans, as the 2019 draft was televised for the first time. The two teams will be led into the match by the two coaches with the best records from the previous season. However, coaches are prohibited from repeat appearances.
This rule was first introduced in 1982 and is commonly referred to as the ‘Riley Rule.’ The name came about after Pat Riley earned the right to coach the Western team eight times in nine years between 1982 and 1990 following the on-court performances of the Los Angeles Lakers. If the coach is a repeat, then the coach with the next best record will have the honor of coaching the respective division.
Betting on the NBA All-Star Game
As we have briefly mentioned, the game itself is one of the betting occasions that all basketball fans will be waiting for. There is a variety of different markets to look into. If you’re a beginner, it is important to learn all about the markets and what will be needed to win, but if you’re a seasoned basketball gambler, you will already know these markets as they are the same as you can expect to find for every game in the NBA.
Of course, one of the biggest factors that is different is the players that are involved, and because of that, there may be numerous ways in which you can maximize any potential returns in the match itself. The caliber of players on the court ensure that most games are remembered fondly, and you can ensure you can also be celebrating by maximizing your returns.
Spread Betting
The most common way to bet on any basketball match is by using a spread. It is effectively a handicap betting market, with a benchmark set to give the underdog a head start. This could mean that the Eastern Conference may start with -5.5. In order for this bet to be a winner, then they must win by at least six points at the end of the match.
Over/Under Total Points
One of the most popular ways to bet on the All-Star game can be found in the over/under market. This means that the punter will have to correctly predict whether or not there will be more points scored than the benchmark set by the sportsbook. For instance, the benchmark could be set at 219.5. The punter can then bet on whether there will be more or fewer points than that total scored by both sides combined. If the punter bets over as there is a total of at least 220 points, then the bet is a winner.
Moneyline Betting
The most conventional way to bet on the All-Star game is by correctly predicting the winning side in the match. There will be no handicap on this bet, and the bet will be settled by the side that wins. For example, if a punter bets on the Eastern Conference to win, then as long as they win in regulation time, then the bet will be a winner. If that match goes to overtime or the Western Conference wins, then the stake is lost.
Winning Margin Betting
One of the most popular ways to bet on the All-Star game to ensure that punters can return healthy profits is by correctly predicted the winning margin that a side will win by. Punters will have the ability to bet on the side, as well as a three-point gap. For instance, they can bet on the Eastern Conference to win by between 1-3 points, 4-6 points, or 7-9. If punters feel like it may be a blowout, then they decide to bet on the winning side to win by 21 or more points.
Will There Be Overtime Betting
Another popular betting market is a simple yes or no question that punters can stake their money on. The question revolves around whether there will be overtime in the game. Punters can place their stake on either yes or no. Should they put their wager on yes, then the match must go into overtime for the bet to be a winner. It wouldn’t matter which side would win, just as long as it goes past regulation time.
History of the NBA All-Star Game
The concept of holding the All-Star game was first brought up during a meeting between Maurice Podoloff, Haskell Cohen, and Boston Celtics owner Walter A. Brown. This was a pivotal time in basketball history in the USA, as the sport had just been rocked by the college basketball point-shaving scandal.
The decision to host the first All-Star game came off the back of this as they tried to sway public attention back onto the talent on the court. Cohen suggested that the exhibition game could be similar to the MLB All-Star Game with the very best players from the league taking part.
The idea was knocked back at first by Podoloff, but Brown was confident that it could be a huge success. He couldn’t have been more right in hindsight. Brown was pleased to announce that he would host the first game and would cover all the expenses and potential losses from the game. Needless to say, the first game was a roaring success as the Eastern All-Stars beat the Western All-Stars 111-94.
The first MVP of the series was announced as Boston Celtics’ Ed Macauley. The success of the game was immediate, as it was attended by 10,094, which was much higher than the season’s average of just over 3,000. The attendance record was smashed in 2010 when ten times that amount of people jammed into the Cowboys Stadium. That attendance record smashed the sport record, which was previously set at 78,129 for a fixture between Kentucky and Michigan State at Ford Field.
There have been controversies throughout the years, however. The most recent of which came in 2017 when the All-Star weekend was originally awarded to Charlotte, North Carolina before the NBA threatened to move the game after they felt that new legislation was passed that would be discriminatory towards the LGBT community. The NBA stuck to their word, and after North Carolina didn’t reevaluate their stance, the game was moved to New Orleans.
The game has also overseen its most dynamic change for many years when the decision was made in 2017 that the conferences would no longer be going head to head. Instead, there would be a public vote on all players, and the two at the top of each of the respective divisions would serve as captains. They could then select any player for their team, no matter the conference they play in. This marked the first time that this would happen since the inaugural game. However, it has already been met with positive feedback.
Previous Winners
| Year | Score | Location |
| 2000 | West 137, East 126 | Oakland, California |
| 2001 | East 111, West 110 | Washington, DC |
| 2002 | West 135, East 120 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| 2003 | West 155, East 145 (2OT) | Atlanta, Georgia |
| 2004 | West 136, East 132 | Los Angeles, California |
| 2005 | East 125, West 115 | Denver, Colorado |
| 2006 | East 122, West 120 | Houston, Texas |
| 2007 | West 153, East 132 | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| 2008 | East 134, West 128 | New Orleans, Louisiana |
| 2009 | West 146, East 119 | Phoenix, Arizona |
| 2010 | East 141, West 139 | Arlington, Texas |
| 2011 | West 148, East 143 | Los Angeles, California |
| 2012 | West 152, East 149 | Orlando, Florida |
| 2013 | West 143, East 138 | Houston, Texas |
| 2014 | East 163, West 155 | New Orleans, Louisiana |
| 2015 | West 163, East 158 | New York City, New York |
| 2016 | West 196, East 173 | Toronto, Ontario |
| 2017 | West 192, East 182 | New Orleans, Louisiana |
| 2018 | Team LeBron 148, Team Stephen 145 | Los Angeles, California |
| 2019 | Team LeBron 178, Team Giannis 164 | Charlotte, North Carolina |
| 2020 | Team LeBron 157, Team Giannis 155 | Chicago, Illinois |
| 2021 | Team LeBron 170, Team Durant 150 | Atlanta, Georgia |
Tips to Remember When Betting on All-Star Game
Betting on the All-Star game isn’t as easy as just picking the team that has the majority of your favorite players on. That wouldn’t be the smartest way to make your bet on the All-Star game, and instead, you should pay closer attention to other aspects of what could factor into the result of the match itself. Here are some of the factors that you must consider before placing your bet.
- The Draft- The new format of the All-Star game has a greater level of interest on the draft beforehand. Since the captains can now pick any player regardless of the conference, then there is a chance that you could get a stacked roster of attacking players on one side. That may not be the best move since they could neglect their defensive responsibilities. A team on paper may look enticing, but it is important to take into account what each player offers.
- Patterns- Already, a pattern has emerged from the new format with Lebron James’ side winning both the previous games. This could be because he has picked more smartly than the other captain. However, there could be more in it. It is important to notice these trends and then shape your bet around them.
- Coaches- It isn’t just the players that will take the All-Star game seriously, as the coaches will also have their own idea of what they would like their team to do. It is important to understand what both sides’ coaches can offer before betting on the game as it could be a big factor into deciding which way the game may go.
2020 All-Star Game
The 2020 edition of the NBA All-Star game will take place on the 16th February and will come from the home of the Chicago Bulls. It will be the 69th edition of the exhibition game and will be the third time that it has been held in Chicago. The two previous editions came in 1973 and 1988. However, both of these games came from the previous home of the Bulls- Chicago Stadium. This time, it will come from the United Center. The game will once again be televised on TNT, which will mark the 18th consecutive year that it has done.
The players and coaches that will be taking part will be announced in January, and that will also be when the betting markets for the game open too.
All-Star Game Records
The honor of taking part in this fixture is undoubtedly a high point for most players that get the honor, but some have performed better on this stage than others. Here are some of the most notable records that are held by a who’s who in the basketball world.
- Most MVP Honors: 4- Bob Pettit (1956, 1958, 1959, 1962) Kobe Bryant (2002, 2007, 2009, 2011.)
- Most Selections: 19- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- Most Consecutive Selections: 18- Kobe Bryant
- Most Points: 362- LeBron James
- Players to Achieve Triple Doubles: Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Kevin Durant.
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