The NBA didn’t just tweak its All-Star Game this year. It rebuilt it. Sunday’s 75th NBA All-Star Game at Intuit Dome scrapped the traditional East vs. West setup in favor of a three-team, round-robin mini-tournament featuring USA Stars, USA Stripes, and Team World.
(Photo by Atiba Jefferson/NBAE via Getty Images)
The concept came with shorter 12-minute games, changing opponents, and a few moments where even players admitted they were still figuring out how the math worked.
But the most important part — the part the NBA has been chasing for years — showed up: effort.
“I think it was definitely a step up in the competitive department compared to last season,” Kevin Durant said. “All three teams came out and played good ball.”
World Pride Made The Night Feel Bigger
For Team World, the format wasn’t just a novelty. It gave the international side a clear identity, and for some players it added real meaning beyond the usual exhibition vibe.
“It was awesome. That’s what this is about,” Karl-Anthony Towns said. “Yeah, that’s what this is about, man, being able to represent my mother’s country, our country, it’s a big honor. It’s probably one of my favorite All-Star Games I’ve been a part of, to be able to have that flag on my jersey.”
Towns didn’t frame the uptick in intensity as accidental, either. He said the pressure from the outside world — fans, media, everyone — has been building, and players felt it.
“Yeah, I’ve been asking for it. Fans have been asking for it. Media have been asking for it,” Towns said. “I feel that after today, I think 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.”
Anthony Edwards wins MVP of the 2026 NBA All-Star game!
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Deni Avdija, experiencing All-Star Weekend for the first time, described the pace as a grind. It wasn’t just the games — it was everything around them.
“First of all, it was a long weekend. I’m going to say that,” Avdija said. “The first game was good, like we had a chance to warm up. The second game, we just went out on the court immediately. So that was a little rough. But it was a competitive game. People really brought it. I was happy. I was just playing, trying to do the best I can. Yeah, that’s about it.”
He said the game still has limitations — unfamiliar lineups, different priorities — but the intent to compete was real.
“For sure, I think it was competitive. People really brought their effort and tried to play it hard,” Avdija said. “Some players took more shots than others, so you can’t really control that. You know, you’re just out there trying to compete. We don’t play together all the time. So we’re trying to figure each other out. But we tried. Yeah, it was fun.”
Victor Wembanyama Brought Regular-Season Energy
The night’s tone was set early, and players kept coming back to the same name: Victor Wembanyama.
From the start, he played like the game mattered — scoring quickly, contesting shots, and reacting to mistakes the way he would in a normal NBA night. He wasn’t trying to “save” anything, at least not in his own mind. He was trying to make it worth watching.
“To make it more fun,” Wembanyama said. “I think it was pretty good. We got a guy like Kawhi going for 30, making every shot. No, it was a pretty good display of basketball. Better than last year, in my opinion. It was fun.”
When Team World gave up a late 3-pointer in overtime, he didn’t hide how much it bothered him.
“Yeah, it was our second time allowing a three when we shouldn’t have,” Wembanyama said. “It’s the game. It’s really one quarter. I mean, I would have expected us to be smarter right here, so that was disappointing. Yeah, I think being honest with ourselves is good. When it’s a game we love, it’s a game I personally cherish, so being competitive is the least I can do.”
Ant: “I ain’t gonna lie. The ref kinda put the ball all the way towards him. He already 8 feet tall.”
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Anthony Edwards said Wembanyama’s edge made it easier for everyone else to follow.
“Yeah, he set the tone, and it was definitely competitive with all three teams, I feel like,” Edwards said. “I feel like the old heads played hard, too. They were playing real good defense. Yeah, he set the tone, man, and it woke me up, for sure.”
Kawhi Leonard Had The Moment Of The Night
If Wembanyama supplied the spark, Kawhi Leonard delivered the most unforgettable stretch.
Leonard erupted for 31 points in a 12-minute game, turning the building into something closer to a playoff atmosphere than an All-Star setting. He appreciated that it happened at home — and that he was even there.
“It was great. Happy that Adam (Silver) let me in,” Leonard said. “That’s what the home crowd wanted to see. I’m glad I was able to do something in that game.”
Leonard also admitted the format wasn’t always intuitive. Players weren’t walking in with the same rhythm as a normal four-quarter game — and the standings math wasn’t exactly second nature.
“I think it was good. Didn’t really figure it out until we got here,” Leonard said. “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?”
Still, his approach didn’t change. If he’s on the court, he’s trying to win possessions.
“When I come in to play basketball, I’ve got one way,” Leonard said. “Obviously, nobody is trying to get hurt. I’m going to try to attack, try to get some shots up. I don’t like people just scoring on me. Don’t want to get crossed over like that. I approach the game as defense first and then see what offense comes.”
The Young Group Took It Personally
In the final, the USA Stars group flipped the night into a statement.
Edwards said the motivation was simple: they had lost earlier, thought they had the win, and wanted payback.
“It felt good,” Edwards said. “Before we walked out, Cade said we got to get our lick back. So we came out and stomped on them.”
Tyrese Maxey framed the result with the kind of blunt locker-room honesty that fits an All-Star setting.
“I think it was more just — I don’t know. We wanted to play hard,” Maxey said. “It doesn’t matter what the format was, I came in, I’m going to play some defense. I’ll score when I can, but I want to play hard, bring energy, get some steals, and have fun.”
Devin Booker pointed to something small that mattered: the NBA front-loaded the obligations so Sunday could feel more like a real game day.
“NBA did a good job of us doing all our media and pictures yesterday,” Booker said. “So today we could just come in and properly get our bodies activated. I think that was a big part of it. I think every team honestly wanted to win.”
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Edwards said the win he enjoyed most wasn’t the one over the veteran Americans. It was the one over Team World.
“Probably beating the World team, yeah,” Edwards said. “Because they say they’re the best players in the world. So beating them is the best feeling in the world.”
Some Stars Still Want East Vs. West Back
Even with the positive reviews, there was still a familiar pull toward tradition.
Leonard said the NBA could return to the original format — and now that players proved they can bring more focus, he believes the competitiveness could stick.
“I still think going back to East vs. West will be great — I think guys will compete still,” Leonard said.
Durant was asked specifically about East vs. West compared to the new setup. He didn’t directly campaign for a switch back, but he leaned into what mattered to him: the quality of play.
“I thought we played well today. All three teams came out and played good ball,” Durant said. “The last one was tough. They hit a lot of shots. To see the greatness on the floor with the red team. I am with the red team. I think it was definitely a step up in the competitive department compared to last season.”
Wembanyama sounded open to either direction moving forward.
“Yeah, I liked it. I liked it,” he said. “I wouldn’t be against this format in the future, and I wouldn’t be against the regular East versus West either.”
That’s the tradeoff the NBA now has to weigh. The tournament format delivered more bite — but it also created rest imbalances and moments of confusion that don’t exist in a straightforward game.
Still, for one night, the All-Star Game looked like something closer to real basketball — and the players sounded like they knew it.
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