NBA 2025-26 Preview Part 2: Can USA vs. the World Format Save the All-Star Game?

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For almost a decade, the NBA All-Star Game has been one of the most disappointing parts of All-Star Weekend. What was once a competitive showcase of the league’s top talent has become a glorified layup line with little to no defense. The 2025 All-Star Game was a new low, featuring a confusing four-team tournament that saw a three-hour broadcast condense to only 42 minutes of actual basketball. Even Commissioner Adam Silver called the event “a miss.”

A New Format: USA vs. The World

However, the league may have found a solution. In early September, reports from the NBA and the NBA Players Association indicated that a new round-robin style tournament is being considered for the 2026 All-Star Game. This new format would feature three teams of eight, with two teams of domestic (U.S.) players and one team of international players. The teams would compete in 12-minute quarter games. According to reports, the league’s competition committee responded to the proposal “positively.”

This new format directly addresses a long-standing debate among basketball fans: Are international players now the most dominant force in the NBA? The potential international roster for a game like this would be absolutely stacked. A team could feature players like:

Nikola Jokic
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Luka Doncic
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Victor Wembanyama
Pascal Siakam
Joel Embiid
Lauri Markkanen

This hypothetical team would include the winners of the last seven MVP awards and six current or former All-NBA players. It’s a roster that features players who are, have been, or have the potential to be the face of the NBA.

A Chance to Reignite the All-Star Game

The number of international players in the NBA is at an all-time high, and the talent level at the top is undeniable. For an All-Star Game that has been lacking a true purpose for years, a USA vs. International format could provide the spark needed to make the event a relevant mid-season spectacle again. While no official decision has been made for the 2026 All-Star Game format, Adam Silver hopes to have one by the start of the 2025-26 season.

Could this new format be the answer to the All-Star Game’s woes?