The 2025 NBA All-Star Game, which introduced a mini-tournament setup and showcased stars like Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry, failed to captivate its audience, drawing only 4.7 million viewers—the second-lowest rating in more than twenty years. In response to the continuing decline in interest, Giannis Antetokounmpo has stepped forward with a strong recommendation to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver: replace the current format with a USA versus World All-Star Game. This shift, Antetokounmpo argues, could reinvigorate the event and restore fan excitement.
How Antetokounmpo Highlighted the Idea and Its Potential Impact
On May 27, Antetokounmpo amplified the proposal by sharing a fan-created graphic on X that depicted a hypothetical All-Star showdown between Team USA and Team World. The graphic featured prominent American players such as Anthony Davis, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, and Jayson Tatum facing off against an international lineup including Antetokounmpo himself, Victor Wembanyama, Nikola Jokić, Luka Dončić, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Alongside the image, Antetokounmpo emphasized his enthusiasm, stating,
“This should be next year’s All-Star Game format!! Must see basketball,”
underscoring the excitement this new approach could generate.
Antetokounmpo’s Previous Support for the USA vs World Concept
This is not a new suggestion from Antetokounmpo; he has advocated for this format in earlier discussions as well. In a prior interview, he expressed strong interest, saying,
“I would love that. Oh, I would love that,”
referring to the USA versus World matchup. He described it as
“the most interesting and most exciting format”
and acknowledged the competitive pride it would inspire. Antetokounmpo went further, identifying potential teammates for the international squad, naming Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokić, Luka Dončić, Victor Wembanyama, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Alperen Şengün, emphasizing the appeal of this diverse grouping competing against top American players.
“I think it would be fun,”
he said.
Rationale Behind Advocating for a More Competitive All-Star Game
The core reason behind Antetokounmpo’s push is to revive genuine competitiveness during the NBA All-Star Game, which has been criticized for lacking intensity in recent years. He expressed hope that the event could return to its former standard of serious play, noting,
“Hopefully, we can get it back to where it was. I remember the first couple of years I was an All-Star, everybody was playing hard. I feel like the last game that was played hard was 2020, and after that, it’s not been as hard.”
This appeal to rekindle the pride and effort players put forth directly addresses the diminishing fan interest and the game‘s reputation for being more entertainment than competition.
Current Viewership Trends and the Need for Change
The NBA All-Star Game has experienced a steady decline in viewership despite experimenting with new formats aimed at increasing appeal. The 2025 event’s audience dropped 13 percent compared to the previous year, contributing to a trio of recent All-Star Games ranking among the least-watched in the past quarter-century. Even with attempts such as the mini-tournament style, the lack of authentic engagement from players has persisted, leaving fans wanting more.
Comparisons to Other Sports and Future Possibilities
The NHL recently adapted a similar concept in 2025, creating a four-nation competition for its All-Star event that injected fresh excitement into the game. This success prompts questions about whether basketball should follow suit and adopt more competitive and nationally charged formats such as Team USA facing Team World. Antetokounmpo’s proposal, backed by his stature as a two-time MVP and international icon, carries weight in this ongoing conversation about enhancing the NBA’s marquee midseason event.
Ultimately, the suggested USA versus World All-Star Game could restore passion and competitive spirit to an event in need of revitalization. If adopted, this format may recapture fan interest, boost ratings, and inject new energy into the NBA All-Star Weekend, setting the stage for a basketball revolution that celebrates global talent while renewing stakes for players and viewers alike.