Wembanyama's Opening-Tip Intensity: A New NBA All-Star Format Takes Flight
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) - Victor Wembanyama's energy from the opening tip of the NBA All-Star Game was infectious, and it seemed to save the midseason showcase in mere minutes. Some credited the 7-foot-5 San Antonio Spurs star with doing more to revive the event than anything the league had done in years.
"It was a pretty good display of basketball," Wembanyama said. "Better than last year, in my opinion. It was fun."
Wembanyama's confidence in setting the tone with competitive fire paid off at the league's 75th annual showcase at Intuit Dome, the Los Angeles Clippers' year-old arena. "If you share that energy," he said, "people feel like they have a responsibility to share it back to you."
This year's All-Star Game introduced a new format: two teams of U.S. players and one team of international players competed in a round-robin tournament, playing three 12-minute games with exciting finishes. The top two teams by record advanced to the title game.
"I liked it," Wembanyama said. "I wouldn't be against this format in the future, and I wouldn't be against the regular East versus West either."
The U.S. Stars team beat the U.S. Stripes 47-21 for the championship, with Anthony Edwards earning MVP honors. Retired Spurs player Manu Ginobili called it the "most fun NBA All-Star Game in a loooong time!"
World team player Karl-Anthony Towns echoed the sentiment, saying, "I feel that after today, you all can see the competition is there, and I think that we all brought it today and a sense of effort. I hope that the fans and all of you appreciate it."
The All-Star Game's East vs. West format debuted in 1951 and continued until 2018, when it was replaced by a player draft. That format lasted until 2024, when the East vs. West format returned for one year.
Last year's game in San Francisco was played in a tournament-style format with three eight-player teams and a fourth team of rising stars. Games were played to 40 points to decide a winner.
Next year's game in Phoenix will feature a U.S. vs. the rest of the world format.
Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija, who played on the World team, praised the latest change as a fun format. "People are about to understand that it’s fun watching the All-Star Game," he said. "It’s going to be a little more competitive, try to bring it back."
Boston Celtics fan Siddakk Chatrah was initially skeptical of the new format but was impressed by the energy and competitiveness. "The first game Wemby and some other international stars brought the energy, and Anthony Edwards matched them," Chatrah said. "Then these young dudes brought the energy to LeBron, KD, they stepped up. It's a better watching experience at a way better level than I could have imagined. Yeah, it’s a little confusing, but I think they might have found something they can tweak a little more."
Even Kawhi Leonard was a bit unsure of the new format. "Even as the game’s going on, trying to figure out the records for being 2-1 and how you play that out as well. Is it like by points? How many? Point spread or what?" he said. "I thought it was good, but I still think going back to East-West will be great. I think guys will compete still."
The event was held in mid-afternoon instead of the evening to attract younger viewers and accommodate NBC's coverage of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics in prime time. Jaylen Brown suggested adding a 1-on-1 competition to All-Star weekend, saying, "It reminds me of the purity of the game. Like, it’s just mano y mano. You got people on the court talking trash. You got to be an offensive and a defensive player."
Brown took the idea further, suggesting players could challenge each other to 1-on-1 games and donate to charity. Detroit's Cade Cunningham, who has played under different formats in his first two years as an All-Star, expressed a desire to try the traditional East vs. West format.
"I want to be able to experience what all the greats played in and everything," he said. "But I’m just playing the cards I was dealt. I’m sure it will come back eventually."
LeBron James is among the fans of the East vs. West format, despite being 41 years old and not around to see a potential return.
"I like the East and West format," he said. "It’s been really good."
