The NBA is mulling an “international competition” for the annual All-Star Game, The Athletic’s Joe Vardon reports.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver and president of league operations Byron Spruell said discussions were being held with new broadcast partner NBC regarding an original format for the All-Star Game. Next season’s game will be held at the Clippers’ Intuit Dome on Feb. 15, 2026. The Intuit Dome will also be the home base for the basketball events in the 2028 Summer Olympics.
The league has been inspired by the NHL, which held a wildly successful four-team international tournament in place of its All-Star Game. The NBA is considering a U.S. vs. the rest of the world matchup.
“Looking to do something new and different yet again, but excited about the possibility,” Spruell said.
The NBA has been groping for ways to regain interest in the All-Star Game, which in recent years has essentially turned into a defensively-absent dunk contest. If the NBA goes in this direction, it will be the third format in three years.
This February, the NBA experimented with a four-team tournament with three squads of All-Stars and a fourth of “rising stars.” However, the tournament was a flop, lacking suspense and drawing poor TV ratings.
Approximately 25 percent of current NBA players were born outside of the U.S., including many of its top stars.
There arent enough international players yet but the game would definitely be a lot more interesting
International starting five would be insane- Luka, SGA, Giannis, Wembanyama and Jokìc. That’s four of the best five players in the game with Wembanyama ascending into that group? It drops way off after that but it’s an All Star game, I’d take my chances.
Still loads of good names out there Lauri Markeneen, Pascal Siakim, Algren Sengun, Franz Wagner, Damontas Sabonis, Rudy Gobert, OG Anunoby and Jamal Murray.
Definitely lacking in guards and overpopulated in bigs but I like the idea
There’s more than enough – Joel would even be healthy for a week!
The World wins the game.
OK, they’re listening to the fans.
Many of us suggested something like this.
Instead of team allegiance or Conference allegiance you have to tap into what the NHL does and some sort of homegrown allegiance, whether it’s USA versus the world or East Coast versus West coast and where you went to high school or something else having to do with where you grew up.
NHL nailed it this year and there was so much excitement. NBA is wise to follow suit here in some way.
How about they “mull over” not playing a stupid exhibition game that doesn’t matter and no one cares about, at all?
Just cancel the game and replace it with flag football.
Dodgeball
Only way to save the game. If they don’t play for real, the Euros will mop the floor with them.
Even though national pride is disgusting even in it’s most wholesome form…
This is how to regain interest in one of the most crazily nationalistic cointries and pride from the players taking part…
Form one super team and have them play the Globetrotters.
“National pride” is only disgusting when the U.S. does it, got it.
Seriously, they just need to cancel this game. No one watches it, no one cares, and it’s a different “format” every single year.
if it’s not worth homecourt advantage in the finals and/or bonus $, then none of the players aren’t gonna give a damn about playing competitively for it + why risk a potential season-ending injury for playing a meaningless game? Most players would rather just be at home resting up and being with their families instead of being there although i can see the first timers might be more excited about actually being there
And that’s what’s wrong with the game. Exactly that. Entitlement.
Things that dont show up in the stat sheet…
Entitlement???
What quarter does “entitlement” destroy the game the most?
Does one team have more entitlement than the other in games?
Do referees have “entitlement”, or just the players?
Or, did you mean coaches?
Tim Hardaway, Jr. got fouled at the end of Detroit’s last game and didn’t get any entitlement.
The fact that these ENTITLED players who make
Millions upon millions upon millions per year doing something solely funded by the fans can’t show up and say thank you to said fans by giving them a brilliant exhibition is the epitome of entitlement. That they are entitled to their fame and fortune and have no duty to give one thing back.
You can move to Vietnam or North Korea where they don’t get paid and share bathrooms, GraymondsBeard. Let us know when you wanna come back here.
Are you suggesting the players aren’t entitled and disrespectful to their fans?!?!?! They think the fans are there for them, to adore them, worship them, shovel their money to them for the privilege of wearing their shoes and jerseys… and they can’t even play at 25% at the all star game?????? That is entitlement.
I’m gonna go out on a limb and say 99.9% of the commenters on this thread complaining about NBA player entitlement also voted FOR our current POTUS….
Sheesh… talk about privilege!
“Let’s destroy our country, ok, but don’t mess up the All-Star Game!”
Are they changing the format every year now?
Nobody cares about the All-Star Game, the players least of all.
This is disgusting. Basketball should bring us together. The last thing we need are Westboro Baptist Church city edition uniforms with American flags and nationalist propaganda. Makes me sick. Its a sport for everyone not just america vs the world. That is what the Olympics is for. Disappointing is an udnerstatement.
And what about Canada? Do they play with USA or international? Or Mexican players? Donald Turnip will make the whole weekend about himself complaining that those players aren’t american and it will spoil it for everyone. And the league will cave because of the dollars involved. Absolutely sickening.
Just do away with that redundant clown show! The regular NBA season is already boring enough with games being reduced to no-defense three-point-shooting exercises and half the league deliberately tanking for draft picks.
Maybe the good old Roman gladiator format, including large predators, would awaken part of the snoozing crowd. Or a bull riding contest. Imagine the hilarity and excitement when one of those beasts Peter-Griffins LeBaby.
I would be all for the NBA AS game to be in another country if they provided a longer break before and after. Honestly they shouldn’t be focusing on those stuff tho…. they need someone to seriously evaluate the schedule and get rid of back to backs and prevent load management, remove the excuse. The AS game is such an afterthought.
SGA,Luka, Giannis,Siakam,Jokic. I can see why American players have ducked that idea.
Raptors are in Cancun.
Dear Adam Silver
If you can’t convince the players to actually try, then the format doesn’t matter.
Sincerely, Blind Freddie