Although this year’s game delivered in a big way for the league, bringing in 8.8 million viewers on Sunday night, an 87% increase over last year’s disaster on TNT, and the best audience the game has seen in 15 years.
This year saw the game move to a “three-team format,” in a sort of mini round robin tournament consisting of the league’s domestic veterans and younger all-stars featuring on two teams, and its international all-stars making up another, in an effort to increase intensity.
The younger domestic stars took home the tournament, but one of its own players, Cade Cunningham, was frank before the game about his desire to participate in a more classic “East Vs. West” all-star game.
Cade. Cunningham speaks on the new format for the All-Star Game:
"I would like to experience the East vs West,” said Cunningham. “I want to be able to experience what all the greats played in.”
Should the NBA go back to the old format? 🤔
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— SleeperPistons (@SleeperPistons) February 14, 2026
The problem with this traditional format has been the disinterest of its players. Luckily, for the NBA, it doesn’t have to look too far to find a fix for its solutions and stil maintain the classic feel of the old format.
The Unrivaled League, a three-on-three domestic women’s league that competes over the WNBA’s offseason, features a one-on-one tournament with a $200,ooo cash prize awarded to its winner.
Naturally, the players take the event seriously, with their pride on the line. Just look at Paige Bueckers reaction of storming off after losing to the tournament’s eventual champion, Chelsea Gray.
Chelsea Gray beat Paige Bueckers so bad 1-on-1 she crashed out and left the arena 😭😭😭
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— Hater Report (@HaterReport) February 14, 2026
All the NBA has to do is add another All-Star event before the All-Star game’s main draw: a one-on-one tournament. The players would compete hard, and the game after would serve as redemption for the tournament’s losers, ensuring that they’d compete hard regardless of the game’s format.
It’s something that the league’s players seem up for, as well, at least Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown is down for it.
“I’m actually a big fan of the one-on-one, off the dribble sports,” Brown said of potentially adding a one-on-one tournament to the weekend, according to Yahoo Sports.
“I think ‘Ball is Life’ is doing some stuff as well,” he added. “I actually love watching because it reminds me of like the purity of the game.”
“It’s … just mano a mano,” Brown continued. “It’s got people in the court talking trash. You know what I mean? You’ve got to play two sides. You’ve got to be an offensive and a defensive player, so I think that’ll be great. And then you can do it like boxing, you can call a guy out, challenge some people.”
“There’s some people I would love to challenge. Some people that’s here this weekend, I would love to challenge all of them. Luka (Doncic), (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander), (Jalen) Brunson. Donovan (Mitchell). I’d challenge all them one-on-one. You could donate to whatever charity – let’s set it up.”
It’ll be interesting to see how the NBA proceeds, but women’s basketball is in the middle of a special moment, and the NBA could be having one of its own if it wisens up.