The NBA will honour Kobe Bryant in next month’s All-Star Game in Chicago. Bryant, 41, and his daughter Gianna were among nine people killed in a helicopter crash on Sunday. The NBA has announced a new format for the game that will “increase the level of competition, provide additional excitement and make the outcome of every quarter count for charity”.
A new fourth-quarter format will honour LA Lakers great and five-time NBA champion Bryant.
The new format:
- Both teams – captained by LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo – will play for Chicago-based community organisations.
- They will compete to win each of the first three quarters, each of which will start at 0-0 and last 12 minutes.
- The community organisation selected by the winner of each quarter will receive $100,000 (£76,441.50).
- At the start of the fourth quarter, the game clock will be turned off and a Final Target Score will be set.
- This will be determined by the leading team’s total cumulative score and adding 24 points – Kobe Bryant’s jersey number.
- For example, if the cumulative score at the end of the third quarter is 100-95, the Final Target Score would be 124.
- The fourth quarter will be untimed and the first team to reach the Final Target Score wins.
- The winning team will win $200,000 (£152,849) for its chosen community organisation.
The 69th NBA All-Star Game will take place at Chicago’s United Center on Sunday 16 February.