Fixing the NBA All-Star Game is always a big talking point around this time of the year and Giannis Antetokounmpo thinks there are two changes that would get the job done. In his press conference before the All-Star Game, Antetokounmpo stated it should be the U.S. vs. the World and that games should be held overseas too.
Reporter: “Giannis, along those lines of potential format changes, U.S. vs. the World has been talked about.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo: “I would love that.”
Reporter: “Would you like that?”
Antetokounmpo: “Oh yeah, I would love that. I think that would be the most interesting and most exciting format. I would love that and, for sure, I’ll take pride to that. I always compete but I think that will give me a little bit more extra juice to compete.
“Having Shai (Gilgeous-Alexander), (Nikola) Jokic, Luka (Doncic), Wemby (Victor Wembanyama), (Karl-Anthony) Towns, (Alperen) Sengun, having all those players playing with you … going against the best US players, I think it’ll be fun. I think that will be the best format…”
Reporter: “Would you ever like to see the All-Star Game head overseas?”
Antetokounmpo: “That’d be fun. That’d be really fun. Like having a game in Paris, All-Star Game in Paris… That’d be really really fun, having a game in the UK or a game in Paris or having a game in Greece. Obviously it’s a small country but why not?
“Or having a game in China, All-Star Game in China and all the stars go there for a weekend and play the game. That’d be fun and I think it bring more attention to the game and more fun.”
Antetokounmpo, who did not play in this year’s game due to a calf injury, later took to X to state that the 2027 All-Star Game should be played overseas.
“2027 All-Star game should be in Rio de Janeiro or in a city in China!”
Unfortunately, that is not going to be possible as the game will be held in Phoenix, Arizona, from Feb. 19-21, 2027. Perhaps the following year it could be held in Brazil or China as the venue hasn’t been decided yet.
While alternating the venues between the U.S. and somewhere overseas is an interesting idea, it’s unlikely to make players play harder. Now, making it U.S. vs. the World might make them go at each other, as there would be pride at stake.
Antetokounmpo himself admitted that he’d have extra motivation and you’d reckon a fair few other stars would as well. The international players would be keen to show that they have well and truly taken over while the U.S. ones would want to put to bed any talk of that.
This would be a fairly evenly matched game too, as Team World is better now than at any point in the past. You’re looking at a roster with the likes of Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, Victor Wembanyama, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Pascal Siakam, Franz Wagner, and OG Anunoby. Even Joel Embiid can be thrown in there if he decides against playing for the U.S.
Had the new format this year worked, you wouldn’t have wanted anything to be changed but it clearly didn’t. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver needs to strongly consider going U.S. vs. the World in 2026 or else we’ll witness another underwhelming game.
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