2026 NBA All-Star Game will debut a new U.S. vs. World format

Gil Scott-Heroin

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I know this won't be popular on this board (nothing about the modern NBA ever is on here), but this is a great incentive to drive some more competition into the ASG.

The whole East vs. West rivalry has been dead for a while now and to be honest never was really a thing like that.

I don't mind using the All-Star weekend to experiment because ultimately it doesn't mean anything at the end of the day.

Giannis and Wemby have been the two most competitive players in the ASG we've had in a minute, so given they'll end up on the same team this season, it'll only naturally get both U.S. teams to be a bit more competitive to match them. If they keep this format going forward, it can be a good buildup to the Olympics in 2028 - I can imagine there'll be some rivalry carry-over from these games into LA28.
 

Gil Scott-Heroin

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How many players per team?
Fans voting the starters for all teams?
Name each of the rosters
As in the past, 24 NBA All-Stars (12 from each conference) will be selected as follows: The five players honored as starters from each conference will be selected by fans (50% of the vote), current NBA players (25%) and a media panel (25%), and the seven players honored as reserves from each conference will be selected by NBA head coaches. This year, the All-Stars will be selected without regard to position. The process for assigning players to the two U.S. teams will be determined at a later date.

If NBA All-Star voting does not result in the selection of 16 U.S. players and eight international players (which can include American players with ties to other countries if necessary), then NBA Commissioner Adam Silver will select additional All-Stars to join either group to reach that minimum. In that case, at least one team would have more than eight players.
 

FlimFlam

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Within a league thats trying to bank on expanding its global market this is curious. A US vs "world " format isn't marketable outside of the US. This so called "world" formation isn't legible to anyone outside of the states to root for.
 

Gil Scott-Heroin

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Within a league thats trying to bank on expanding its global market this is curious. A US vs "world " format isn't marketable outside of the US. This so called "world" formation isn't legible to anyone outside of the states to root for.
I'd imagine folks outside the U.S. will root for the player that's representing their country, by proxy, rooting for The World.

I think it'll be good audition too for Team USA to get some familarity with one another and see which players have chemistry with whom. If it continues on for the next three seasons, it'll be a valuable excercise for LA28. It'll likely be the only time(s) the main players play alongside one another before the exhibition games in 2028.

The East vs. West rivalry has run its course.
 

Guile

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World team should win. But players like Luka, Jokic not caring could set a bad vibe for the team. Guys like Giannis (not sure he would be all the way in) and Wembey might not be able to counter balance this.

The younger U.S. Team (the one without Bron, Steph and KD) would be my favorite (Guys like Cade, Mitchell, Bam, P5( gotta stop the chucking), maybe JB) should be motivated.
 
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