In the whirlwind of news surrounding the start of the NBA season, an announcement about the return of the East vs. West format for the All-Star Game might have slipped past your radar. When Indianapolis hosts All-Star Weekend 2024 in February, the player draft and the Elam Ending will take a back seat as the East and West teams square off in a more traditional matchup.
The departure from the draft process was likely due to some All-Star participants feeling uncomfortable with it. The previous draft had moments like Giannis Antetokounmpo unwittingly revealing his pick of Damian Lillard, who would become his Milwaukee Bucks teammate. It also saw Nikola Jokić assigning himself to LeBron James’ team, leaving Lauri Markkanen as the unfortunate “Last Player Drafted.”
United States vs. The World format for the NBA All-Star Game.
It’s a concept that has been discussed within the league, and there is a growing possibility it might come to fruition in the future.
Deputy commissioner Mark Tatum recently mentioned the potential for a USA vs. World format, and commissioner Adam Silver showed interest during a press conference where the 2025 All-Star Game was awarded to San Francisco. He said, “People are out there talking about … a Ryder Cup-type format, maybe thinking about U.S. players playing against global players. I just know we’re looking at all different approaches to All-Star, and [San Francisco] is a great market to try new things… Stay tuned.”
Why does this format make sense now?
It wouldn’t have been feasible 25 years ago when the NBA had a limited number of international players. However, today’s NBA is teeming with global talent. Here’s why a USA vs. World format is worth considering:
1. Global Talent Pool: The NBA boasts a record number of international players from various countries. There were 125 international players from 40 nations on opening night rosters this season.
2. International Dominance: The last five MVP award winners and four of the top five MVP vote-getters last season were international players. Six international players started in the All-Star Game last season, setting a new record.
3. Competitive Balance: The depth of international talent ensures that a Team World vs. Team USA matchup would be highly competitive, providing fans with an exciting and closely contested game.
While a USA vs. World format isn’t set to happen until 2025 at the earliest, it’s intriguing to think about how such a game might shape up. Here’s a snapshot of what the rosters could look like:
Team USA:
Stephen Curry
LeBron James
Kevin Durant
Jayson Tatum
Damian Lillard
Bam Adebayo
Devin Booker
Donovan Mitchell
Anthony Edwards
Anthony Davis
Tyrese Haliburton
Zion Williamson
Team World:
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Nikola Jokić
Luka Dončić
Joel Embiid*
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Victor Wembanyama
Kyrie Irving*
Domantas Sabonis
Jamal Murray
Pascal Siakam
Lauri Markkanen
Kristaps Porzingis
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