A well-known sports TV host has suggested a surprising idea to make the NBA All-Star Game more exciting. Nick Wright, a TV and podcast sports analyst, said he thinks players would try harder if one team consisted of Black players and the other of white players.
Wright said on “The Bill Simmons Podcast” that the All-Star Game has become boring and that fans and players do not seem to care as much as they did in the past. He believes that a race-based game would make players more competitive.
In recent years, the NBA has tried new formats to keep fans interested in the NBA All-Star Game, like having U.S. players compete against international players. Some players liked the new USA vs. World idea, but others still think more changes are needed.
Wright’s suggestion has surprised many people. Critics say this kind of idea would emphasize racial divisions rather than athletic competition. Supporters of the current All-Star format say the focus should be on teamwork and showcasing the best skills from all players, not on dividing them up by race.
The NBA has experimented with various formats to maintain viewer interest in the All-Star Game. For example, the 2026 game uses a round-robin format with three teams, and the top two go to a final game. This was a change from the old East vs. West conference style.