2026 NBA All-Star Game to Feature Round-Robin Tournament of USA Teams and One World Team
While some fans would rather watch East versus West with players wearing team jerseys. The National Basketball Association has other plans. The league is switching up the ASG once again for next year in hopes of gaining better ratings. The 2026 NBA All-Star Game is to feature a round-robin tournament of two USA teams and one World team.
This change is coming to fruition due to poor viewership. The All-Star Game continues to decline. With most disinterest stemming from the fact that players seem unwilling to play “full out.” Fans want a real, competitive event. And the NBA is now testing various options to try and make it happen.
And their efforts are coming at a time when the event seems to be at an all-time low. NBA All-Star Game viewership has been steadily declining, with the 2025 game drawing its second-lowest viewership in 25 years, a 13% decrease from the previous year. The 2025 NBA All-Star Game attracted approximately 4.7 million viewers, a 13% drop from the nearly 5.4 million viewers in 2024. Things need to change or the league can expect more of the same.
2026 NBA All-Star Game to Feature Round-Robin Tournament of USA Teams and One World Team
While we have known for some time that next year’s All-Star extravaganza will feature the World versus the USA. Which is a very fitting basketball matchup since this NBA star-studded event will take place during the Winter Olympics 2026 coverage. Nevertheless, the exact format to be utilized had been up in the air till now. Shams Charania took to social media to announce the NBA’s ASG plans for 2026. He reveals,
“The 2026 NBA All-Star Game format is likely to feature a round-robin tournament consisting three eight-player squads of two USA teams and one World team, sources tell ESPN. NBA and players union presented format to the Competition Committee on Wednesday and response was positive.
The two USA teams and one World squad would play each other in 12-minute per quarter, Ryder Cup-style games, sources said. Governors, team executives and players discussed the format positively within the Competition Committee meeting on Wednesday.”
Well, it looks like the NBA and players are happily settling upon a new format. Hopefully it proves to be exciting and thrilling. Which is all fans really want.
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