In what appears to be an incentive to improve the competitive spirit of NBA All-Star Games, player earnings have been increased, league sources tell ESPN. Each player on the winning team will receive $100,000, and the losing team players will pocket $25,000, league sources said. The only modification is the winner's compensation, with a $50,000 boost from previous years. All-Star Weekend 2018 will be Feb. 16-18 in Los Angeles. There will be a $75,000 difference between the winners' and losers' earnings, as opposed to just $25,000. Some players have bonuses in their contracts tied to All-Star appearances, but that is independent of the boost the league is rewarding the All-Star Game winners. All-Star players who spoke to ESPN overwhelmingly agreed that this financial incentive is a game-changer. Most of the All-Stars said they were unaware of the salary hike. "Well, I would like to think so," Boston Celtics forward Al Horford told ESPN. "I think guys will...