Wembanyama Promises Higher Intensity in NBA’s USA vs. World All-Star Debut
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INGLEWOOD, Calif. — San Antonio Spurs rookie center Victor Wembanyama said he intends to set an unmistakably competitive tone when the NBA unveils its new All-Star Game format on Sunday, pitting a roster of U.S. players against a lineup representing the rest of the globe.
“Exclamation-point plays, solid basketball and energetic ball movement,” Wembanyama said Saturday when asked how he plans to spark effort in the exhibition. “If you share that energy, people feel like they have a responsibility to share it back to you.”
The league altered the midseason showcase after recent editions were widely criticized for lackluster defense and record-setting scores, including the East’s 211-186 victory in Indianapolis in 2024 despite a pregame address from Hall of Famers Larry Bird and Julius Erving urging players to compete harder.
Mixed Reactions From U.S. Stars
Some American veterans remained skeptical that an exhibition could match the edge of high-stakes international play. Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards, who faced Wembanyama in the gold-medal game at the 2024 Paris Olympics, dismissed the possibility of a comparable atmosphere. “That was the Olympics,” the four-time All-Star said. “It’s just that simple.”
Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant, appearing in his 16th All-Star Game, argued that nostalgia often inflates memories of past intensity. “Fans and media need something to complain about,” Durant said. After reviewing All-Star footage from the 1960s through the 1990s on YouTube, the two-time Finals MVP concluded, “The intensity the older generation has been talking about, I don’t know if I’ve seen it.”
Call for a Return to East vs. West
Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham, selected for his second All-Star appearance, praised the experiment but hopes the league eventually restores the traditional conference format. “I want to experience what all the greats played in,” he said.
Whether the new USA-versus-World setup produces a tighter contest will be determined Sunday night at Intuit Dome, the new Clippers arena in Inglewood, as the NBA continues searching for the balance between celebration and competition on its marquee weekend.
Source: ESPN
