Last season's All-Star Game came in for some heavy criticism due to the lack of competitiveness on display from both sides.

Commissioner Adam Silver admitted it was a concern and vowed to discuss the issue with the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA).

Those talks proved to be fruitful as the league announced a revamp to the showpiece event last week in an effort to add some spice to the game.

For the first time in the history of the star-studded contest, there will not be a matchup between the Eastern Conference and Western Conference.

Instead, two captains will select their teams from a pool of players which will consist of 12 All-Stars from each conference.

The captains will be the highest vote-getters from the east and west and they'll select from the starters - who will be voted for by the fans, media and players - and reserves - who'll be picked by the coaches.

Last year, LeBron James and Stephen Curry generated the most votes and are likely to do so again.

Curry already stated that he's a fan of the new format and believes it'll be "great for the game".

Speaking for the first time since the changes were revealed, LeBron echoed the feelings of the Warriors star and admits that a change was necessary.

“I don’t see it as a bad idea. We had to do something," James said. "The All-Star Game has been pretty bad the last couple years just from a competition standpoint.

"Trying to switch it up. Just like how the dunk contest was at one point it was great, then it wasn’t so well, so they had to kind of switch it up. Then it got good, then it got bad and you switch it up again.

"You see what happens. It’s hard to say if it’s good or bad yet. We haven’t done it yet. February isn’t here yet so no one knows how good or how bad it’s going to be. But I like the change. Why not?”

The reactions to the All-Star alterations have been largely positive as the majority are in agreement that the NBA had to try something new.

But there are still doubts about whether the new format will make the game itself more competitive.

Last year's showdown in New Orleans saw a record score of 192-182 in favour of the west but let's hope the playground-style selections will lead to some level of intensity and edge in Los Angeles in February.