OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The NBA is working on a plan to turn next season's All-Star Game into a U.S.-vs.-world competition, a person with knowledge of the situation said Wednesday.
It remains unclear how the format will work, said the person, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the league has not made any final determinations. Speaking to Fox Sports 1 earlier Wednesday, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver — who has talked about such a game on multiple occasions — was asked if U.S. vs. the world is possible.
“Yes,” Silver said.
Silver addressed the idea on March 27 as well at the league's most recent board of governors meeting, when he revealed that the NBA was scrapping the All-Star mini-tournament format that was used this season.
At that time, the AP reported that the 2026 game — to be played Feb. 15 in Inglewood, California, just past the midpoint of the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics — will be moved from its traditional prime-time Sunday night slot to one that starts on Sunday afternoon. That's happening because the game will be aired on NBC under the terms of the new 11-year media rights deals that kick in next season. NBC is also the Olympic broadcaster in the U.S.
So, NBC could show Olympic events in the morning and early afternoon, then the All-Star Game, then have prime-time Olympic programming.
The move comes on the heels of a popular tournament, the 4 Nations Face-off, that essentially took the place of the NHL All-Star Game this year, as well as strong competition at the Paris Olympics, where the Americans won a fifth consecutive gold medal by rallying past Nikola Jokic and Serbia in the semifinals, then topping host France and Victor Wembanyama in the title game — behind a barrage of late 3-pointers from Stephen Curry.
“What better time to feature some form of USA against the world?” Silver said on FS1. “I’m not exactly sure what the format will be yet. I obviously paid a lot of attention to what the NHL did, which was a huge success. ... But also, going back, last summer, our Olympic competition was a huge success.”
There is one big challenge regarding any U.S.-vs.-world format. About 70% of NBA players are American, while 30% are international, so it would in theory be easier for an international player to make the All-Star team — if the rosters are the same size.
International players, when asked at this year's All-Star Game if they would want a U.S.-vs.-world matchup, sounded enthusiastic.
“I would love to. My opinion is that it’s more purposeful,” Wembanyama said back in February. “There’s more pride in it. More stakes.”
Added Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo, who's from Greece: “I would love that. Oh, I would love that. I think that would be the most interesting and most exciting format. I would love that. For sure, I’d take pride in that. I always compete, but I think that will give me a little bit more extra juice to compete.”
The latest format for the All-Star Game — a four-team, three-game mini-tournament in San Francisco with the first team to 40 points winning each — was a miss. It came after years of the league asking players for a more competitive game.
The 211-186 final score at Indianapolis in 2024 was the last straw, and the league — for one year, anyway — thought the tournament was the answer.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
NBA commissioner Adam Silver, left, presents the Michael Jordan Most Valuable Player trophy to Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander prior to Game 2 of an NBA basketball Western Conference Finals playoff series between against the Minnesota Timberwolves Thursday, May 22, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
NBA commissioner Adam Silver is seen on the court prior to Game 2 of an NBA basketball Western Conference Finals playoff series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Minnesota Timberwolves Thursday, May 22, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
New York Jets (3-11) at New Orleans (4-10)
Sunday, 1:00 p.m. EST, Fox.
BetMGM NFL odds: Saints by 4 1/2.
Against the spread: Jets 7-6-1, Saints 6-8.
Series record: Saints lead 8-6.
Last meeting: Saints beat the Jets 30-9 on Dec. 12, 2021, at New York.
Last week: Jets lost to the Jaguars 48-20; Saints beat the Panthers 20-17.
Jets offense: overall (28), rush (6t), pass (32), scoring (27).
Jets defense: overall (20), rush (29), pass (12), scoring (30).
Saints offense: overall (26), rush (27), pass (20t), scoring (29t).
Saints defense: overall (11), rush (26), pass (6), scoring (19t).
Turnover differential: Jets minus-17; Saints minus-4.
QB Brady Cook. The undrafted rookie will make his second start in a row after making his NFL regular-season debut last week. Cook, a former star at Missouri, was 22 of 33 for 176 yards and one touchdown with three interceptions in the 48-20 loss at Jacksonville. Coach Aaron Glenn said he wants to see more of Cook to evaluate him as the season winds down. Either Tyrod Taylor (groin) or Justin Fields (knee), who missed last week with injuries, will serve as Cook’s backup.
WR Chris Olave. Now in his fourth NFL season, he's closing in on his third 1,000-yard campaign. He has 82 catches for 896 yards and six TDs. Olave also eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark in his first two NFL seasons (2022 and 2023) before being sidelined for nine games in 2024 by injuries, including a major concussion.
Top Jets pass rusher Will McDonald, a defensive end who has seven sacks, 10 tackles for loss and 17 QB hurries this season, against rookie left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr., who was New Orleans' top draft choice last spring, picked ninth overall. McDonald was the Jets' top pick, 15th overall, in 2023 and has no sacks in the last five games since getting four against Cleveland.
Jets: Both Taylor and Fields were listed as questionable for the game. Taylor was a full participant at practice Friday, while Fields was limited. ... TE Mason Taylor (neck), S Tony Adams (groin), LB Kiko Mauigoa (neck) and DL Eric Watts (concussion) were ruled out early in the week. Adams was later placed on injured reserve. … WR Garrett Wilson (knee) remains on IR with a knee injury and coach Aaron Glenn announced Friday he'll be shut down for the rest of the season.
Saints: RB Devin Neal (hamstring) and WR Devaughn Vele (shoulder) were placed on IR. ... RB Alvin Kamara (knee, ankle), and OLs Cesar Ruiz and Asim Richards were ruled out for the game. ... DT Nathan Shepherd (ankle, knee), a third-round pick of the Jets in 2018, was questionable.
The Saints have won four of the past five meetings, including the past two. ... These teams have split six previous meetings in New Orleans.
The Jets have lost two in a row and four of their last five. … Glenn made his first major staff change by firing defensive coordinator Steve Wilks on Monday. Chris Harris, the team’s defensive backs coach and pass game coordinator, takes over for Wilks. … New York has no interceptions through 14 games, an NFL record to start a season. It also ties the league mark for most consecutive games without an INT over any 14-game stretch. San Francisco ended its drought earlier this season. … The defense has just two takeaways this season: both on fumble recoveries, including one by rookie S Malachi Moore last week. … Cook was the second undrafted rookie quarterback in franchise history to start a game, joining Bill Demory (1973). … Cook opened against the Jaguars by completing each of his first six passes, the 13th NFL QB since 1991 to do so and the first since Mike White also accomplished it for the Jets in 2021. … The Jets have used the same starting offensive line combination – left tackle Olu Fashanu, left guard John Simpson, center Josh Myers, right guard Joe Tippmann and right tackle Armand Membou – the only NFL team to do so this season. It’s the first time the Jets have used the same starting five in the first 14 games since 2012, when they used only one lineup for the entire season, according to Stats Perform. … Since making his debut with the Jets in Week 11, WR Adonai Mitchell leads the team with 236 yards and two touchdowns on 18 receptions. He needs 76 yards receiving to surpass his total from last year in his rookie season with Indianapolis. … RB Breece Hall is 100 yards rushing from his first 1,000-yard season. He would also become the eighth player in franchise history to run for 1,000 or more yards. ... Saints QB Tyler Shough passed for 272 yards and a TD, and rushed for a team-high 32 yards, in Week 15. ... Shough has at least one TD pass in two of his past three games. ... Olave led New Orleans with 85 yards receiving and a TD in Week 15. He's one of seven NFL players with at least 50 yards receiving in 11 games this season. Olave has a TD catch in two of his last three games and at least 70 yards receiving in each of his past two home games. ... LB Demario Davis had five tackles last week, including his 1,500th career tackle. Davis is one of four players since 2000 to reach the 1,500-tackle mark, along with Lavonte David, London Fletcher and Bobby Wagner. ... Davis was drafted in 2012 by the Jets, with whom he had 467 tackles, 11 1/2 sacks, 31 tackles for loss, five fumble recoveries and an interception in five seasons over two stints.... LB Pete Werner had his third fumble recovery this season in Week 15, tied with Nashon Wright for most in the NFL this season. ... DE Chase Young led the Saints with six tackles, including two tackles for loss and a sack in Week 15. ... Young has a sack in three of his past four games and also in each of his past three home games. ... DE Cameron Jordan has 128 sacks and 750 tackles since 2011 and is one of just two players since 2000, along with Terrell Suggs, with at least 125 sacks and 745 tackles in their career. ... Rookie S Jonas Sanker had six tackles in Week 15 and has at least five tackles in three of his past four games.
Given Shough's ability to produce points running or throwing, his increasing comfort with the offense and the fact he'll be at home against a struggling defense, he could be a good bet to put up decent numbers. The Saints' defense, which could finish in the top 10 in the NFL in fewest yards allowed, also could be a good fantasy play in this matchup.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough (6) high fives fans as he leaves the field after an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Ella Hall)
New York Jets running back Isaiah Davis (32) runs for a touchdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough (6) looks to pass in the second half of an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Ella Hall)
Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Dennis Gardeck (47) sacks New York Jets quarterback Brady Cook (4) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave (12) scores a touchdown in the second half of an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
