Aside from the new format in this year’s NBA All-Star Game, players now have a bigger incentive to win for their respective teams.
The NBA has announced that the players from the winning side will now pocket $100,000 if they take home the win on February 18. In previous years, winning players took home about $50K, so this year’s changes only increase that number.
The losers still go home with a cool $25,000.
In years past, the competition hasn’t been looked as competitive, with players going towards a more flashy approach rather than one of winning. Dunks, alley-oops and highlight reels have been the focus of All-Star games recently, but the NBA hopes that this money incentive gives players more of a reason to show up and win.
While more marquee names like LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Steph Curry may not look at that number like a lot, the lesser known players and reserves will certainly be more motivated to perform when their name is called to the court.
$100K is nothing to sneeze at.