For years now, the NBA All-Star Game has struggled to capture the essence of the NBA All-Star Weekend we all fell in love with. Dunks in transition with not even a thought of defense, half-court threes, and final scores that resemble professional gamers playing 2K with 12-minute quarters on rookie—all flash, no fire.

Adam Silver knows it.

“It was a miss,” Silver said in a press conference on Thursday. “We’re not there in terms of creating an All-Star experience that we can be proud of and that our players can be proud of.”

With that in mind, the league is exploring a seismic shift: scrapping the traditional East vs. West or Team Captains format in favor of a (hopefully) competitive, four-team international tournament, à la this year’s NHL All-Star game.

This year, the NHL replaced their typical All-Star Game with a “4 Nations Face-Off.” The tournament showcased elite teams from Canada, Finland, Sweden, and the United States, battling through a round-robin stage before the two top-ranked squads clashed in a high-stakes, winner-takes-all final.

“We took note of the great success the NHL had with their national team competition as their All-Star festivities,” Silver said.

It wouldn’t quite be USA vs. the World—Silver made that clear. Instead, think of a global showcase featuring the four best basketball nations battling for international bragging rights. Could this actually crack the code and get the best players in the world to compete? 

If this format debuts in 2026, here’s how the rosters might shake out:

USA

The Americans would absolutely still be the team to beat, pick your poison: Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Anthony Edwards, Jayson Tatum, Devin Booker, Kyrie Irving, the list goes on and on… 

Canada

The rise of Canadian basketball has been undeniable, and in a format like this, they’d be a problem to deal with. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, arguably a top-five player in the world, headlines a backcourt that could also feature Jamal Murray. RJ Barrett and Andrew Wiggins could bring two-way intensity on the wing. And let’s not forget the wild card—Bennedict Mathurin, whose fearless style of play could be a game-changer.

France

With the arrival of generational talent Victor Wembanyama, France might have the most intriguing roster in the tournament. He’d pair with Rudy Gobert to form a terrifying defensive frontcourt, while Nicolas Batum and Evan Fournier add international experience. The backcourt could feature Killian Hayes and Frank Ntilikina, but keep an eye on Bilal Coulibaly’s rapid development. If France wants to make a deep run, it’ll be on Wemby’s shoulders.

Serbia

Two words: Nikola Jokić. The reigning MVP brings an entirely unique skill set, capable of dissecting defenses with pinpoint passing and methodical post moves. Flanking him would be a mix of rugged European skill and toughness—Bogdan Bogdanović providing perimeter scoring, Vasilije Micić as a high-IQ playmaker, and Nikola Jović as a wildcard. Serbia would be a dark horse. But we can’t put anything past Jokić.

Would this format work? If the NBA is looking for something that elevates the All-Star Game from a glorified exhibition to must-watch competition, this just might be it.