Giannis Antetokounmpo's All-Star Game suggestions fall on deaf ears

Antetokounmpo was preaching to the choir. The NBA missed a trick by not introducing the format this year, given the fallout from the 2024 Paris Olympics. It was the perfect opportunity to draw the battle lines between the Americans and internationals.

Alas, Antetokounmpo's suggestions have fallen on deaf ears, with many questioning if 12 global stars are deserving of All-Star selections. FS1 analyst Rachel Nichols further argued that the Team USA versus Team World format would lead to many Americans being snubbed.  

Nichols makes a sound argument, but the NBA must heed Antetokounmpo's advice, even if it leads to some snubs and handout selections. The NBA has tinkered so much with the All-Star Game that rolling the dice on a new format isn't the worst thing it could do.

Sadly, too many share Nichols' views, perhaps including the NBA itself. NBA commissioner Adam Silver recently said the Team USA versus Team World format would be unfair to the Americans.

"30 percent of the league is international, and the rest are American players. We want to have a fair process for picking All-Stars," he said, via BasketNews.

It also doesn't help that there's a stereotype of international players not taking the All-Star weekend seriously. During the All-Star Draft, Kenny Smith furthered that notion on national TV.  

"I don't think the international guys are gonna play hard," Smith said while refusing to draft Victor Wembanyama to his "Young Stars" roster.

Perhaps Smith's comments were made in jest, to create an "us versus them" dynamic between Americans and non-Americans. That would explain why the NBA strategically had Charles Barkley draft nearly all the international stars in his "Chuck's Global Stars" roster.

Ultimately, the NBA's attempts to shake things up did not lead to a competitive All-Star game. It was the same old, same old, with players barely playing defense and jacking up shots from halfcourt. 

Antetokounmpo's suggestions will be forgotten quickly and the NBA will likely experiment with another brand-new format next year, even as the most obvious solution sits in the barn.