The NBA All-Star Game is once again getting a facelift - this time, the league is rolling out a new format that splits the rosters into two Team USAs and a Team World. The goal?
Inject some fresh competitiveness into a game that, let’s be honest, has lacked real edge in recent years. But as always, the format is just the stage.
The players are the show.
And when it comes to consistent All-Star performances, Nikola Jokić is as steady as they come. The reigning MVP and perennial All-Star isn’t letting the new structure change his approach - because, frankly, he doesn’t need to.
"I'm gonna play how I play every year," Jokić said during media availability. "I'm not sure that it's going to bring another fire to me because I play every game the same."
That’s classic Jokić - no frills, just elite-level basketball. He’s the kind of player who doesn’t need a gimmick to compete. Whether it’s a Tuesday night in February or the All-Star Game, he brings the same cerebral, efficient style that’s made him one of the most unique forces in the league.
But not everyone’s sold on the new format. Kawhi Leonard, another All-Star mainstay, offered a more nostalgic take.
He believes the league should dial it back and return to the traditional East vs. West setup.
“It’s going to start with the starters, whoever gets out there first,” Leonard said. “For me, personally, we should just go back to the way it was.
"I'm gonna play how I play every year. I'm not sure that it's going to bring another fire to me because I play every game the same. To me not."
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 14, 2026
Nikola Jokic shares his thoughts on the new All-Star format 🗣️pic.twitter.com/elrpATGq2S
And if guys are going to play hard, they’ll play hard. I think it’ll be competitive this year.
I don’t know how the format is. But hopefully, guys are out there competing.
They usually do, but it’s also an All-Star game.”
Leonard’s point hits at the heart of the All-Star dilemma - you can shuffle the format all you want, but if the players aren’t dialed in, it won’t matter. The most competitive All-Star action we’ve seen in recent memory came during the years with the target score - a tweak that actually did ignite some real intensity down the stretch.
But that format was shelved, and in its place came a carousel of team drafts, captains, and now this latest USA vs. World twist.
The league’s clearly still searching for the right formula. And while the new approach adds some intrigue - especially with the growing international presence in the NBA - it remains to be seen whether it’ll translate to actual on-court energy.
Ultimately, the All-Star Game’s success hinges less on how the teams are drawn up and more on how the players choose to show up. If the stars decide to flip the switch and bring real effort, the game can still deliver. But if it’s another casual run-through with little defensive resistance, no format in the world can save it.
So as we head into All-Star weekend, the spotlight isn’t just on the new structure - it’s on the players themselves. Will this be the year they bring the fire back? Or will we be right back here next season, talking about yet another format change?