On Wednesday, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver hinted at the possibility of revamping the NBA All-Star Game format, potentially introducing a showdown between US stars and international players.

During an appearance on Fox Sports’ Breakfast Ball, he expressed enthusiasm about the idea of a format that juxtaposes Team USA against Team World, saying a definite “Yes” when asked if such a matchup could happen.

Though still unofficial, the notion of a US-vs-the-World All-Star contest has been gaining traction among fans for quite some time.

Initially, this format was introduced in 2015 with the Rising Stars Challenge, where top American rookies clashed with their international peers. This rivalry was popular for six years before being replaced by various four-team tournament formats.

The concept gained renewed interest during the Paris Olympics last year when Team USA faced challenging competitions from Serbia and France.

Within the recent All-Star selections in 2025, TNT analysts Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley, and Kenny Smith experimented with a mix of US talent against international stars under the moniker ‘Chuck’s Global Stars’. However, the match suffered from a lack of competitive energy, echoing sentiments of previous years, especially as the NHL enjoyed success with its own international matchups.

“Our Olympic competition was a huge success,” claimed Silver on Breakfast Ball. “I obviously paid a lot of attention to what the NHL did, which was (also) a huge success.”

These dynamics suggest that a proposed USA vs. World format could enhance competitiveness significantly. However, the actualization of such a concept hinges on player commitment and equity among teams to ensure close contests.

Possible Rosters:

Team World

Starters:
G: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Canada)
G: Luka Doncic (Slovenia)
F: Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece)
F: Victor Wembanyama (France)
C: Nikola Jokic (Serbia)

Reserves:
Pascal Siakam (Cameroon), Karl-Anthony Towns (Dominican Republic), Alperen Sengun (Turkey), Franz Wagner (Germany), Domantas Sabonis (Lithuania), Ivica Zubac (Croatia), Jamal Murray (Canada).

This formation does not include any players associated with Team USA, providing an exciting glimpse into the international talent converging in the NBA.

Team USA

Starters:
G: Stephen Curry
G: Anthony Edwards
F: Jayson Tatum
F: LeBron James
C: Anthony Davis

Reserves: Tyrese Haliburton, Jalen Brunson, Donovan Mitchell, Kevin Durant, Cade Cunningham, Evan Mobley, Devin Booker.

While the All-Stars lack the dire stakes of an Olympic conflict, the format promises to ignite a fervor reflective of national pride, encouraging Team World to rise to the challenge against the premier American players.