NBA Unveils Bold New Format for 75th All-Star Game: Three-Team Tournament Featuring U.S. and World Squads

The NBA is reshaping its marquee midseason showcase. The league announced on Tuesday that next February’s 75th NBA All-Star Game will adopt a completely new format — a three-team round robin tournament featuring two squads of United States players and a third composed of international stars.

Set for February 15, 2026, at the newly opened Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California — home of the Los Angeles Clippers — the reimagined event will feature four 12-minute games in a fast-paced, competitive structure. The first matchup will see two teams face off, with the winner then taking on the third team. The loser of the opening game will subsequently meet the third team, and the top two squads, determined by win-loss record or point differential, will contest the championship.

Each of the three rosters will include at least eight players, maintaining the traditional total of 24 All-Stars. The selection process will continue to feature 12 players from each conference, though the league confirmed that positional distinctions will be dropped entirely — allowing for a more flexible and talent-driven lineup.

“I actually love it,” said retired NBA star Carmelo Anthony, welcoming the shift toward positionless basketball. “The players are used to positionless basketball. You can see five guards on the court. I love the idea of the best players getting chosen in the All-Star Game. It brings excitement. That brings a lot of culture back to the game.”

However, not everyone sees smooth sailing for every type of player. Fellow former star Vince Carter pointed out that the change could make it tougher for traditional big men to earn All-Star spots. “Now that big man sits there, and it’s a lot harder,” Carter said. “Harder for a big man to have an opportunity because there are a lot of great guards in the league.”

Fan voting will continue to play a major role in determining the starters, accounting for 50 percent of the vote, with players and a media panel sharing the remaining half equally. Head coaches will choose seven reserves from each conference.

The NBA will decide later how to divide American players between the two U.S. teams. Should the final voting fall short of the minimum 16 U.S. and eight international players, Commissioner Adam Silver will appoint additional All-Stars to balance the squads.

Last year’s All-Star Game highlighted a growing international presence in the league, featuring stars such as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Victor Wembanyama, Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Pascal Siakam, and Alperen Sengun. With the World Team now taking center stage, the 75th edition promises to spotlight the NBA’s expanding global reach in a way never seen before.