US vs foreign all-star game

[FNG]

I listened to a discussion a couple weeks ago on NBA Radio about the possibility of dividing the All-Star players into domestic and foreign. While they admitted that currently the NBA top 5 is stacked with foreign players, there probably weren't enough all-star caliber foreigners to field a team. The more I thought about it, the more wrong I found that conclusion. The foreigners might be a little big-man heavy (not enough guards), but I think they easily put together a team, and likely beat the US team. Try out this starting lineup:

PG: Luka Doncik
SG: SGA
SF: Giannis
PF: Joker
C : Embiid

And then a bench of Sabonis, KAT, Murray, Siakam, Markannen. Porzingis, Gobert and Anunoby.

Put together your best American all-star roster. I say the foreign guys would destroy us! Luka, SGA and Murray would have to play a lot of minutes because of the dearth of guards (maybe they need to add Schroeder), but they still win. Thoughts?

[FNG]

The American team on the other hand would be guard and wing dominant, but short on centers. I would probably go like this :

C: AD
Pf: Durant
SF: Tatum
SG: Lillard
PG Steph

With a bench of LeBron, Kyrie, Bam, Ja, Booker, Ant, Butler, and Kawhi.

I think it would be a heck of a game. Better depth for the Americans, but I think the star power and size of the Internationals wins the day. It would be fun though...

[Coolbreeze44]

Embiid plans on playing for the USA in the olympics, so I'm not sure where he would fall in an all-star game

[60WinTim]

I haven't watched an All-Star game for many years. Now I am reminded why. Time to go see what else is on...

[FNG]

I haven't watched an All-Star game for many years. Now I am reminded why. Time to go see what else is on...

Yeah, I haven't either. And that's why I think they either have to make a dramatic change, or eliminate the game all together and just keep the surrounding events. A US versus the world format might be a way to save this dreadful unwatchable game.

[Q-is-here]

They should just dump the all-star game itself and keep experimenting with the other non-contact stuff surrounding it - skills competition, 3-point shooting, etc.

If you were to ask the casual NBA fan if they want to see a more competitive all-star game, they would probably say "yes" without thinking about it too much. But then if you were to follow that up and ask if they want their home team star to go 110% and risk injury in the game, they would say "absolutely not". So which is it? The players certainly know.

[Q-is-here]

One other thought....if there are current teams that rest key guys during regular season games (let's say the second night of a back to back against a really good team, i.e. a scheduled loss), than why on earth would they ever want to sign up to a more competitive all-star game!?!

Fix the regular season first! These road back to backs where a team has to fly from Orlando to Boston, for example, for consecutive games just doesn't cut it. It also cheats out fans that buy tickets in advance from seeing the best product. I give the Wolves credit for competing in the example above, but they are more of the exception.

[FNG]

They should just dump the all-star game itself and keep experimenting with the other non-contact stuff surrounding it - skills competition, 3-point shooting, etc.

If you were to ask the casual NBA fan if they want to see a more competitive all-star game, they would probably say "yes" without thinking about it too much. But then if you were to follow that up and ask if they want their home team star to go 110% and risk injury in the game, they would say "absolutely not". So which is it? The players certainly know.

Yep, I agree that most informed NBA fans don't want their stars to go 100% in the All-Star game...and they don't, which makes for an unwatchable game. But I don't know if I am a typical informed NBA fan, but I don't want Wolves players going 100% in international play either, just weeks before the start of the season. Just think about all the discussion last season about how Rudy was negatively impacted by 2023 international play. Clearly NBA players really care about winning in international play. I think patriotism is the reason...the players all say how important it is to win for their country. And that's why I think the format I suggest might produce a worthwhile contest...I think both teams would really want to beat the other team, unlike the silly east versus west format.

I would give it a try. But my second choice would be to eliminate both the all-star game and summer international play if we're concerned about injuries.

[Q-is-here]

They should just dump the all-star game itself and keep experimenting with the other non-contact stuff surrounding it - skills competition, 3-point shooting, etc.

If you were to ask the casual NBA fan if they want to see a more competitive all-star game, they would probably say "yes" without thinking about it too much. But then if you were to follow that up and ask if they want their home team star to go 110% and risk injury in the game, they would say "absolutely not". So which is it? The players certainly know.

Yep, I agree that most informed NBA fans don't want their stars to go 100% in the All-Star game...and they don't, which makes for an unwatchable game. But I don't know if I am a typical informed NBA fan, but I don't want Wolves players going 100% in international play either, just weeks before the start of the season. Just think about all the discussion last season about how Rudy was negatively impacted by 2023 international play. Clearly NBA players really care about winning in international play. I think patriotism is the reason...the players all say how important it is to win for their country. And that's why I think the format I suggest might produce a worthwhile contest...I think both teams would really want to beat the other team, unlike the silly east versus west format.

I would give it a try. But my second choice would be to eliminate both the all-star game and summer international play if we're concerned about injuries.

What you are suggesting is similar to the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup in golf. The Ryder Cup especially is VERY competitive and it's interesting to fans because it's a rare chance to see a team format versus each individual playing for himself.

For me personally, there is literally nothing the NBA can do to make me interested in the all-star game as long as it's smack right in the middle of the NBA season. Get rid of it! And like you said, there is already FIBA and the Olympics available for the more patriotic/love-of-country competition. At least that happens during the NBA offseason!

[AbeVigodaLive]

Obviously... money drives the modern player.

There's a lot more potential money to lose by playing hard in the ASG. So... if the goal is to make it more competitive (it's not)... the NBA would obviously have to pony up a few million to make that happen.

But as long as advertisers are buying in... and people are still clicking content... expect more of the same. It must make enough money for the league as is to keep it.