Can proposed format save NBA All-Star Weekend?

At a glance, this looks like a smart fix. It acknowledges the NBA’s global identity and what real competition should (maybe) look like. With roughly 125 international players in the league now, the U.S.-versus-the-World dynamic doesn’t feel cheesy — just overdue. But that’s only half the story.

Last year’s version was a disaster. Four teams, target points, endless breaks — there were only about 42 minutes of real basketball in a three-hour broadcast. Fans, pundits and even Draymond Green ripped it.

So if the previous fix drowned in its own gimmicks, what makes this one different?

For starters, the time format looks cleaner. Games with real NBA quarters are leagues ahead of gimmicky targets, hype videos and nonstop intermissions packed with distractions. Even Charania reported positive feedback from league and union meetings, suggesting this format has more internal momentum.

Player buy-in is most important factor for NBA All-Star Game

But none of this matters if players don’t care or the viewers still snooze. Public opinion nailed it: The league isn’t trying to sell great basketball— it's hoping we buy the spectacle. That won’t cut it if the mindset stays the same. Players will still treat this like a short break, not a game worth playing for.

Interesting ideas to breach that barrier have been floated — like a 1-on-1 tournament with a $1M prize, potentially held Friday to raise stakes early. The NBPA seems open to it, seeing inspiration from the BIG3 3v3 concept.

Ultimately, the All-Star Weekend has lost altitude because the core issue wasn’t format — it was lack of engagement. Changing it up could help if it also changes player buy-in. If stars start playing to win, the fans will tune back in. If not, the refreshed format might just be a new way to watch stale highlights.

This USA vs. World setup is the best shot yet. The time is shorter, the matchups more meaningful and the theme globally relevant. 

But format alone won’t save the weekend if talented players leave the game behind. The NBA must combine this redesign with real incentives, star commitment and maybe a little prize money, if only to make an All-Star Weekend worth remembering again.