The NBA is dangling a carrot in front of its All-Stars this year — a nice, $100,000 carrot.
According to a report from ESPN.com, each member of the winning All-Star team will collect a $100,000 bonus, while each member of the losing team will receive $25,000.
This monetary incentive, along with the new pick-up format in which LeBron James and Stephen Curry selected their teams, should help ensure a more competitive game.
"I think guys will definitely take the game more seriously,” Celtics forward and Team Stephen member Al Horford said. “In the last couple of years, the games haven't been good, and we're all aware of that. Regardless of that, I think guys are going to come out and compete. But that's a big incentive, for sure. We're going to be diving for loose balls out there."
Klay Thompson, another member of Team Stephen, agreed with Horford and said: "I think it will help, for sure. That's a lot of money.”
The game is set for Feb. 18 in Los Angeles. Full rosters are below:
Team LeBron
Starters
- Kyrie Irving
- LeBron James
- Kevin Durant
- Anthony Davis
- DeMarcus Cousins (Injury replacement: Paul George)
Reserves
- Bradley Beal
- LaMarcus Aldridge
- Kevin Love
- Russell Westbrook
- Victor Oladipo
- Kristaps Porzingis
- John Wall
Team Curry
Starters
- James Harden
- DeMar DeRozan
- Stephen Curry
- Giannis Antetokounmpo
- Joel Embiid
Reserves
- Draymond Green
- Klay Thompson
- Jimmy Butler
- Damian Lillard
- Kyle Lowry
- Karl-Anthony Towns
- Al Horford
