USA vs World To Finally Take Place! NBA Plans To Bring In New All-Star Game Format

Last Updated:September 04, 2025, 08:38 IST

The 2026 NBA All-Star Game at Intuit Dome may feature Team USA 1, Team USA 2, and Team World in a round-robin, with support from players.

LeBron James, Nikola Jokic at the 2023 NBA All-Star Game (AFP)

Another year, seemingly yet another new format for the NBA All-Star Game, and this time around, it seems as if a USA vs World encounter seems most likely.

The NBA is moving toward a radical new approach for its 2026 All-Star Game, with league officials close to finalizing a format that would pit two American squads against one international team in a round-robin mini-tournament.

The plan, which has already received positive feedback from the NBA’s competition committee, could mark the league’s most dramatic All-Star shake-up in years.

The Proposed Format

According to reports from The Athletic and AP the new structure would feature three teams of eight players each:

• Team USA 1
• Team USA 2
• Team World

The three squads would compete in short, round-robin matchups to determine the winner.

The breakdown — 16 American All-Stars and eight international stars — would roughly mirror the league’s current player composition, with about 70% of NBA players hailing from the United States and 30% from overseas.

While a straight U.S. vs. World game has long been discussed, Commissioner Adam Silver has said it would be difficult to balance rosters because of the numerical disparity between American and international players.

Why the Change?

The league has been searching for a way to reinvigorate its midseason showcase after years of lackluster competitiveness. The 2024 All-Star Game, a 211–186 no-defense shootout, was widely criticized and described by some insiders as the final straw.

In 2025, the NBA experimented with a four-team, untimed tournament format — games to 40 points — but the concept fell flat with players and fans alike.

Silver, who has long pushed for a more competitive All-Star product, has pointed to other sports for inspiration. The NHL’s 4 Nations Face-Off earlier this year, which culminated in a U.S. vs. Canada final, drew rave reviews and made NBA executives wonder if basketball could capture a similar country-versus-country intensity.

The 2026 NBA All-Star Game, scheduled for February 15 at the LA Clippers’ Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, will take place during the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.

Several stars, including Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama, Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Warriors’ Draymond Green (Golden State Warriors) have openly supported the concept of a U.S. vs. World format.

Siddarth Sriram

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term...Read More

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term...

Read More

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First Published:

September 04, 2025, 08:38 IST

News sports USA vs World To Finally Take Place! NBA Plans To Bring In New All-Star Game Format

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