Lots of people have said their piece about how boring the NBA All-Star game has been lately while others also made their suggestions. Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of the latter and now, it looks like Adam Silver listened.
NBA All-Star 2025
February 16, 2025; San Francisco, CA, USA; Shaq’s OGs guard Stephen Curry (30) of the Golden State Warriors and Shaq’s OGs guard Jaylen Brown (7) of the Boston Celtics reach for the ball against Chuck’s Global Stars forward Karl-Anthony Towns (32) of the New York Knicks during the 2025 NBA All Star Game at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
The Milwaukee Bucks star, who missed this year’s All-Star Game due to an injury, was among those who are not giving up on the mid-season festivities and one of his suggestions was to make it Team USA vs Team World.
He also wanted it to be stated in other parts of the world instead of the usual American cities.
Giannis Antetokounmpo has a simple solution to fix the NBA All-Star Game:
– Make it Team USA vs. Team World.
– Rotate the host city between the USA and other parts of the World such as Paris and London.
He believes that will change the game’s intensity and make players care.
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) February 17, 2025
He doubled down on it last week on X when he replied to user who posted a graphic of American players going head to head with the international ones.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
Feb 16, 2025; San Francisco, CA, USA; Chuck’s Global Stars forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) of the Milwaukee Bucks during introductions before the 2025 NBA All Star Game at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
This should be next year All Star Game format!! Must see basketball💯🔥 https://t.co/OFtmk6JNxW
— Giannis Antetokounmpo (@Giannis_An34) May 26, 2025
Giannis Antetokounmpo is getting his wish
Nothing is cast in stone yet but if things go as planned, Antetokounmpo’s dream format might happen.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver said he is entertaining the idea of changing the format of the NBA All-Star Game which last edition featured a new format. It was four teams going for a winner take all.
It somehow featured a team of global stars which was picked by Charles Barkley. Next year’s team will be a little bit the same although there is no assurance yet how many teams will play.
Silver said his inspiration for this idea is the National Hockey League.
“I’m not exactly sure what the format will be yet. I paid a lot of attention to what the NHL did, which was a huge success,” Silver said on FS1’s Breakfast Ball.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Lebron James
Feb 18, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Eastern Conference forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) of the Milwaukee Bucks defends Western Conference forward LeBron James (23) of the Los Angeles Lakers during the first quarter in the 73rd NBA All Star game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
“So what better time to feature some form of USA against the world.”
Sure there are more Americans in the NBA than international players but the league has been dominated by non-Americans in the past seven years if the MVP award is going to be the determining factor.
The league hasn’t seen an American MVP since 2019. Those who won it since that year are Giannis (2x), Nikola Jokic (3x), Joel Embiid (2023), and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2025). Predictions even think that home grown talents will remain far from winning the most prestigious individual award.
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