The NBA is constantly searching for ways to make the All-Star Game more competitive, and a rising idea has caught the attention of two of the league’s biggest international stars — Victor Wembanyama and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The concept? Team USA vs. Team World, a format that would pit the best American players against the top international talents in a high-stakes, pride-driven matchup.
Wembanyama, Giannis in Favour of a U.S. vs. World Format
Wembanyama, the 7-foot-4 San Antonio Spurs rookie sensation from France, is all for the idea, citing a greater sense of purpose and competition compared to traditional All-Star Games.
“I would love to. My opinion is that it’s more purposeful,” Wembanyama said during All-Star Weekend in San Francisco. “There’s more pride in it. More stakes.”
Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, a native of Greece, echoed those sentiments, saying such a format would add more intensity to the game.
“I would love that. Oh, I would love that,” Antetokounmpo said enthusiastically. “I think that would be the most interesting and most exciting format. I always compete, but I think that will give me a little bit more extra juice to compete.”
The NBA All-Star Game has faced increasing criticism over the years for its lack of intensity, culminating in last year’s 211-186 scoreline that many deemed unacceptable. In response, the league debuted a new four-team, three-game mini-tournament format this year, mimicking the Rising Stars event.
While the new format added some fresh energy, discussions about how to make the game more competitive in the long run continue. The idea of a U.S. vs. World game has gained momentum, especially with the growing number of international stars dominating the league.
Despite the push for a more competitive format, 15-time All-Star Kevin Durant believes the All-Star Game serves a greater purpose beyond just the contest itself.
“I think that when you get events like this, All-Star Weekend, we don’t worry about the competition,” Durant said. “It’s more about celebrating the basketball family and the community. It shows how united we are as a basketball community and how we can unite the rest of the world with what we do.”
With international players now shaping the NBA like never before—Nikola Jokić, Luka Dončić, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, along with Wembanyama and Antetokounmpo—there’s no shortage of global talent to make the format a reality.
The NBA has experimented with a U.S. vs. World concept in the Rising Stars Challenge, but adopting it for the main All-Star Game would be a major shift. If stars like Wembanyama and Antetokounmpo continue to push for it, the league may have to seriously consider making it happen.
