Los Angeles (United States) (AFP) – The NBA’s ploy to inject intensity into this weekend’s All-Star Game with a new US-versus-the-world format has divided basketball’s biggest superstars before a single slam dunk has been scored. Once a highlight of the calendar, the All-Star Game has suffered from a lack of competitiveness and declining audiences, forcing NBA bosses to pivot from the traditional East-versus-West format. On Sunday, a “Team World” will play two teams of US players in a mini-tournament, highlighting the globalized nature of a league that has given its Most Valuable Player award to foreign players for seven years running.
French prodigy Victor Wembanyama on Saturday gave the move his blessing, telling reporters that the new format “definitely has a chance to” ramp up the intensity. “We’ve seen that many of the best players have been increasingly foreign players. So there is some pride on that side,” he explained. “I guess there is some pride also on the American side, which is normal. So I think anything that gets closer to representing a country brings out that pride.”
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However, Detroit Pistons star Cade Cunningham, who will represent one of the US teams, was left yearning for the All-Star Games of his youth and felt the formula did not need to be changed. “I would like to experience the East versus West — I want to be able to experience what all the greats played in,” he said. “But I’m just playing the cards I was dealt, and I’m sure it will come back eventually.”
– ‘Dream Team’ –
In a similar vein to the 1992 Olympics’ mesmerizing “Dream Team” of Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird, the 75-year-old All-Star Game has historically helped popularize the NBA worldwide. But viewership has declined. Comparing the strength of the NBA’s local and international players is the latest attempt to reverse those declines. American players still make up around 70 percent of NBA rosters. But foreign superstars have become increasingly influential. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — all foreign players — have swept the last seven league MVP awards. Slovenian Luka Doncic is knocking on the door, while Wembanyama could be the league’s next top star.
At the Intuit Dome, home of the Los Angeles Clippers, 24 stars will be divided into three teams, who will compete in a mini-tournament of four 12-minute games.
– ‘Don’t care’ –
The teams may be new, but some tensions and contrasts are already evident. Kevin Durant this week bristled at constant complaints at the lack of All-Star Game efforts by veteran US stars, urging a reporter to “ask the Europeans and the World Team if they want to compete.” Singling out Doncic and Jokic as players who “don’t care about the game at all,” he noted that in previous years, they “be laying on the floor, shooting from half-court.” Durant suggested a racist element to the criticism frequently aimed at older US players like himself, who are predominantly Black. “I can read between the lines, bro,” he said.
On Saturday, Durant played down that controversy, but also the game itself. “I just feel like fans and media need something to complain about, and the All-Star Game don’t make them feel like it made them feel back when they was kids,” he said. “I don’t think it’s that big of a deal, to be honest, the All Star Game.” Doncic, confirming he is likely to play after a minor injury, diplomatically predicted, “it’s going to be better than in recent years.” Jokic expected some difference in approaches between US and European players. “I think it will be competitive in some way. I think Europeans are going to probably pass the ball out and have fun out there,” he said. “Oldies are gonna probably win it,” he added, referring to the US veterans team. He added: “We’re going to see tomorrow.”
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