If your conference wins the AS game, you get home court advantage in the finals if you have the better W/L record against your opponent.
If your conference wins the AS game, but your opponent has a better W/L record than you in the finals, you get a chance at home court which is your wins (X) vs their wins (Y):
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Your chance = X / (X+Y)
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Their chance = Y / (X+Y)
So in 2023, the Nuggets had 53 wins and the Heat had 44 wins. If West won the All-Star game, the Nuggets are guaranteed home court advantage 100%. If East won the All-Star game, 53/97 (55%) chance that Nuggets get home court advantage, 44/97 (45%) chance that the Heat get home court advantage.
This makes it so that players will actualy want to win in the All-Star game because it means something. If your team has the All-Star win and you have a better record than your opponent, you are guaranteed home court advantage. If you have the All-Star win, but you have a worse regular record, then at least you have a chance at home court. This incentivizes winning the All-Star game and it also rewards doing well in the regular season as it makes a team more likely to get home court advantage in the finals.
there’s only ONE way to make the NBA all star game competitive
The winning team’s players all become eligible for an additional 5 percent added to their next contract. The team doesn’t HAVE to pay that amount but they are eligible for it.
For example Giannis just signed 3/186 extention that could have been 3/195 extension had his team won the all star game last season.
The Bucks wouldn’t have to give him 3/195 they can still give 3/186 then it becomes a negotiation point.
imagine making an unimportant game in the middle of the season and then being mad when players arent interested in potentially injuring themselves by playing hard