The NBA’s shift to a US versus World All-Star format has divided players, with some praising its competitive potential and others nostalgic for the classic East-West game
THE NBA’s new US-versus-the-World format for this weekend’s All-Star Game has divided basketball’s biggest stars before the event even tips off. The league pivoted from the traditional East-versus-West matchup in an attempt to inject intensity into a contest that has suffered from declining competitiveness and viewership.
On Sunday, a “Team World” will face two teams of US players in a mini-tournament at the Intuit Dome. The format highlights the globalised nature of a league whose last seven Most Valuable Player awards have gone to foreign stars.
French prodigy Victor Wembanyama endorsed the change, saying it “definitely has a chance to” ramp up the intensity. He explained that pride on both the international and American sides could fuel a more competitive atmosphere.
However, Detroit Pistons star Cade Cunningham, who will represent a US team, expressed a desire for the classic format. “I would like to experience the East versus West — I want to be able to experience what all the greats played in,” he said.
The 75-year-old All-Star Game has historically helped popularise the NBA worldwide. American players still constitute around 70% of NBA rosters, but foreign superstars like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic now dominate the MVP conversation.
Tensions have already surfaced ahead of the new-look game. Kevin Durant recently bristled at criticism aimed at veteran US stars for a perceived lack of effort. He singled out Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic as players who “don’t care about the game at all” in previous years.
Durant suggested a racial element to the criticism frequently aimed at older, predominantly Black US players. “I can read between the lines, bro,” he said.
On Saturday, Durant played down the controversy and the significance of the game itself. “I just feel like fans and media need something to complain about,” he stated, adding, “I don’t think it’s that big of a deal, to be honest.”
Doncic, who confirmed he is likely to play despite a minor injury, diplomatically predicted the game would be “better than in recent years.” Jokic offered his own forecast for the clash of styles.
“I think Europeans are going to probably pass the ball out and have fun out there,” Jokic said. He added, “Oldies are gonna probably win it,” referring to the US veterans team.
The Sun Malaysia
