The NBA is once again contemplating changes to its All-Star Game structure. This season`s format, a mini-tournament with four teams competing in short games to 40 points, did not achieve the desired success. Before that, the league adopted a playground-style draft where top vote-getters from each conference selected their rosters. While initially exciting, this approach quickly became stale, particularly after the league attempted a live captain draft just minutes before the game in 2023 for television purposes.
Now, the league is considering an idea that many fans, media members, and even some players have suggested for several years: a USA vs. World format. This isn`t a revolutionary concept, but it seems highly logical given the unprecedented high level of international talent currently in the NBA.
League Commissioner Adam Silver recently told The Athletic, “Our All-Star Game will return to NBC next season in the middle of their coverage of the Winter Olympics.” He added, “Given the strong interest we`ve seen in international basketball competitions, most recently in last summer`s Olympics in Paris, we`re discussing concepts with the players association that focus on NBA players representing their countries or regions instead of the more traditional formats that we`ve used in the past.”
While it might not be a strict USA roster against a single “World” roster, Byron Spruell, President of League Operations, indicated it could be “more on a nations or regions based,” potentially bringing back multiple All-Star teams as seen this season. However, the league clearly intends to highlight the international vs. USA dynamic for next season`s event.
Silver also connected the format idea to the location: “It`s not lost on us… we`ll be in L.A., the home of the `28 Summer Olympics, and we`ll be competing in the arena at Intuit, where the basketball competition will take place in the 2028 Olympics.” He concluded, “So I think all of those factors, when they come together, it presents an enormous opportunity for us to do something with an international competition instead of the traditional All-Star formats that we`ve used.”
If there was ever an ideal time for the league to adopt a USA vs. World format, it is now. Approximately 25% of the league`s players are international, a historical peak. International players have won the last six Most Valuable Player awards, and this year is poised to make it seven straight, as finalists Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, and Giannis Antetokounmpo are all non-American.
The NBA has witnessed a resurgence of international talent over the past decade, and this number continues to grow. The last two players selected first overall in the NBA draft were from France, and numerous other international prospects are rising through the ranks. It makes perfect sense for the NBA to showcase this global talent, and the All-Star Game provides an excellent platform to do so.
Should the NBA proceed with a USA vs. World format, they can look to the NHL as a successful example. This season, the NHL replaced its traditional All-Star Game with a Four Nations format featuring teams from the United States, Canada, Sweden, and Finland. It was widely considered a massive success for the NHL, producing exciting and dramatic moments, particularly the championship match between Canada and the U.S.
The NBA could easily replicate this, and filling rosters for a simple USA vs. the Rest of the World game wouldn`t be challenging. A potential starting lineup for the World team could effortlessly feature Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka Doncic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokić, and Victor Wembanyama. For the U.S.: Stephen Curry, Anthony Edwards, Jayson Tatum, LeBron James, and Anthony Davis. And those are just the starters. Both sides could assemble star-studded rosters, and when players are competing for national pride, it might significantly boost the level of competitiveness – something the league`s All-Star Game has notably lacked for years.
The final format remains to be seen, but ultimately, whatever the league decides, its success will hinge on how invested the players are in making it an appealing product for viewers. For countless years, star players have shown limited competitive intensity in the All-Star Game. Perhaps this international theme could finally alter that perspective.
Jasper Hawthorne