The NBA is reportedly considering another major change to its All-Star Game format, with NBC, its new media partner, playing a key role in the decision-making process.
The latest concept being floated is a four-team mini-tournament featuring two teams of U.S.-born All-Stars, one team of international All-Stars, and a fourth team comprised of players who were snubbed from the official All-Star selections.
The idea is designed to add excitement, increase competitiveness, and address fan criticisms that the current format lacks intensity.
The new format is an evolution of this year’s All-Star Game, which introduced a three-team mini-tournament. However, the fourth team was made up of the winners of the Rising Stars Challenge, which didn’t create much buzz.
The league is now looking to replace that team with a squad of All-Star snubs—players who barely missed the cut but have everything to prove.
The international team could be particularly strong, with a roster potentially including Giannis Antetokounmpo, Victor Wembanyama, Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Pascal Siakam, and other stars.
This would allow the NBA to showcase the league’s global appeal while maintaining a competitive balance. The two U.S. teams would be split evenly among top American stars, creating intriguing matchups that could bring a level of rivalry that the traditional East vs. West format failed to sustain.
Despite the NBA’s efforts to reimagine the All-Star Game, there has been significant pushback from current and former players.
Charles Barkley, always outspoken on the state of the league, has been highly critical of LeBron James and Stephen Curry’s generation for what he sees as the downfall of All-Star weekend.
Darius Garland has suggested a potential solution—offering a $1 million prize to each player on the winning team. The idea is that a significant financial incentive would give players more motivation to compete at a high level.
The NBA has experimented with cash prizes before, notably in the In-Season Tournament, and it led to increased intensity. Implementing a similar structure for the All-Star Game could be a way to bring back a sense of urgency and pride.
Meanwhile, Kevin Durant added his own unique perspective, suggesting that the league should cancel All-Star Weekend entirely and simply give players a break.
The NBA is clearly trying to find a way to make the All-Star Game relevant again. Whether this new format will succeed or whether it will face the same criticisms as previous versions remains to be seen.
What’s clear is that the league is willing to take risks to fix what has become one of its most controversial events.
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