The NBA has been focused on becoming a global league, making strides in popularizing basketball across the world, not just in the United States. They have succeeded in doing so in a lot of ways, the league is filled with international talent, drawing more and more fans from other countries to it, although the majority of the talent is still from the US.
However, the top end of talent is as diluted as it has ever been. Four international stars all have a case to be considered Top five in the NBA. And as such, an NBA page suggested that there be a Team World vs. Team USA game at the next All-Star break. Joel Embiid, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, and Ben Simmons would make up the World Team. In contrast, Stephen Curry, Devin Booker, Jayson Tatum, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant would make up Team USA.
This sparked quite the debate between basketball fans in the replies, with many liking the idea considering that the teams would be quite evenly matched.
Just imagine an All-Star Game with Team USA vs. Team World instead of Team LeBron vs. Team Durant 🔥
🇺🇸 Stephen Curry, Devin Booker, Jayson Tatum, LeBron James, Kevin Durant
🌍 Ben Simmons, Luka Doncic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokić, Joel Embiid
NBA, we need this! 🙏 pic.twitter.com/7SeSPJP0Xx
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) July 19, 2022
“I genuinely can’t tell who would win this one.”
“I’ve got Team World winning this.”
“Team USA would beat the breaks off Team World.”
“Switch Book with Kawhi and this a battle.”
“Idk who would win, but I would love to watch this.”
“This game would be fire, imagine if they played seriously.”
“Team World is a whole lot of bigs, unfair match up. DOA!”
“This could work, and it would actually be good.”
“The NBA simply needs to make this happen.”
“I would watch the hell out of this.”
“Team USA got too much scoring, Team World got too much size.”
“Team World would dominate in the post no question.”
“Team USA with Kawhi would wash Team World.”
“The shooting would absolutely ruin Team World.”
“I really want to see this now.”
A game like this at All-Star Weekend is doable for the NBA if they wish to make it happen. While it wouldn’t be the most ideal in terms of positions, the talent on the court would more than make it interesting. And with the last four MVP awards going to international players, Team USA would have a chip on their shoulder as well.
