NBA All-Star Game 2026 to Feature USA vs. World Format, Adam Silver Says

The next NBA All-Star Game is going to look quite different.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver confirmed Wednesday during an appearance on Breakfast Ball that the 2026 All-Star Game will be some type of format that features American players competing against international players.

"I'm not exactly sure what the format will be yet," he said. "I paid a lot of attention to what the NHL did, which was a huge success."

Silver pointed to the timing of the event in February that will coincide with the Winter Olympics, which means athletes representing their countries will be in the headlines.

He also highlighted the NHL's success with the 4 Nations Face-Off in place of its traditional All-Star Game this past season. The tournament featured players from the United States, Canada, Sweden and Finland representing their countries in a round-robin format.

It was widely considered a success with massive crowds and playoff-like intensity on the ice. 

Canada defeated the United States in overtime of the championship game in a matchup that was far more memorable than a traditional All-Star Game would have been in that same spot on the calendar. 

The idea of the Americans against international players has the support of one of the NBA's most notable stars, as Giannis Antetokounmpo took to social media last month to say such a matchup would be "must see basketball."

While the United States is the reigning Olympic champion in men's basketball, competing against an All-Star team of international players might be a different story.

After all, the last time an American-born player took home the MVP was during the 2017-18 campaign with Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokić, Joel Embiid and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander winning the award in every ensuing season.

Many of those players are also in the peak of their careers, while some of the notable American players such as LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant are older even though they are still effective.

It is an idea that will surely generate plenty of excitement as the NBA looks to revamp its All-Star Game.