Former Los Angeles Lakers star Magic Johnson has one wish for Commissioner Adam Silver for the All-Star Game. The 2025 NBA All-Star Game didn’t get the fans’ vote. The league introduced a different format, which featured four teams in a tournament-style event. According to Statista, the main event garnered 4.72 million viewers, a 13 percent decrease from 2024.
The format had four teams similar to the Rising Stars Challenge. It had three teams with All-Stars (starters and reserves). The fourth team was the team that won the Rising Stars. The first team to reach 40 points won the game.
However, the new format didn’t make the event entertaining, and it generated a lot of complaints from the fans. Part of the complaints were about the new format. The rest was because of the number of promotional breaks during the main event
On Tuesday, it was reported that Silver and Byron Spruell, the NBA’s president of league operations, said that the league has started discussions about the future of the All-Star weekend. According to the league, they have started talking to the NBA Players Association and broadcast partner NBC about putting an international competition over the current format of the main event.
“Our All-Star Game will return to NBC next season in the middle of their coverage of the Winter Olympics,” Silver told The Athletic. “Given the strong interest we’ve seen in international basketball competitions, most recently in last summer’s Olympics in Paris, we’re discussing concepts with the players association that focus on NBA players representing their countries or regions instead of the more traditional formats that we’ve used in the past.”
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and Byron Spruell, the NBA's president of league operations, acknowledged that the league is having discussions with the NBAPA and broadcast partner NBC over replacing the All-Star Game's current format with an international competition next season.… pic.twitter.com/j2lYfQU0UG
— ESPN (@espn) April 29, 2025
According to Spruell, some ideas involving international play could feature a U.S. versus the rest of the world format.
“NBC is very much leaning into it, given their role — we are, as well,” Spruell added, according to The Athletic. “Looking to do something new and different yet again, but excited about the possibility.”
Los Angeles Lakers’ Magic Johnson is excited to see a new format in place
Like most fans, the Los Angeles Lakers’ legend wants to see something new in the All-Star weekend.
“m excited about the possibility of replacing the current All Star Game format with an international competition. Please make this happen Commissioner Adam Silver! It would create so much excitement around the world!” Johnson posted.
I’m excited about the possibility of replacing the current All Star Game format with an international competition. Please make this happen Commissioner Adam Silver! It would create so much excitement around the world! https://t.co/HvuYXVF5KT
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) April 29, 2025
The All-Star game isn’t as competitive as it once was when the Los Angeles Lakers star was active. A breath of fresh air in changing the traditions could improve the league’s viewership, a major concern for the NBA.
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Reign also writes NBA and WNBA news updates on Sportskeeda. He started as a feature writer for AirAlamo, an NBA website that covers the San Antonio Spurs. Some of his work can also be seen on Valley of the Suns, a Phoenix Suns-centric website, where he served as a contributing writer.
