LeBron James and Team USA vs Nikola Jokic and the World on Track For 2026 All-Star Game

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and his team working on bringing Team USA vs the World at the 2026 All-Star game.

LeBron James and Team USA vs Nikola Jokic and the World on Track For 2026 All-Star Game

LeBron James and Team USA could face off Nikola Jokic and the World (Image via FirstSportz)

This past regular season, Adam Silver and his top brass decided to tweak the All-Star game to try and eke some competitive spirit when the likes of LeBron James and Nikola Jokic took to the floor. The multiple games were seen as a way to push them to play harder and make it a true game rather than the shooting fests of recent years.

That plan, however, went moot, and it had nothing to do with the players or their performances. Rather, the league’s decision to focus on entertainment rather than basketball angered fans. Those decisions saw entertainment take up most of the time slot as players waited on the bench, enjoying their time off.

Months after that disaster, Silver acknowledged that their idea had failed and was now looking at all options. Now, everyone’s focus returned to Silver’s original idea of pitting Team USA vs a World team, however, at the time, the American contingent was not as strong as their Paris Olympics roster.

Even though fans and members of the media wanted this to happen, the circumstances did not help matters. There was a chance Team USA lost, however, the Paris Olympics gave him an idea. Earlier today, he appeared on FS1’s Breakfast Ball, and when asked about it, he said this:

Yes, so next year, as part of our new media deal is the All-Star Game returns to NBC, where it was when we were younger. And it so happens that next season will be smack in the middle of the Winter Olympics. So what better time to feature some form of USA against the world?

Adam Silver said

Adam Silver reiterated that the exact format is not finalized, and it is also not certain how the teams would line up. He did admit that the recent NHL 4-Nations success gave the league the idea that such games would be well-received.

LeBron James could spearhead Team USA in possibly his last All-Star game

If Adam Silver and his executives do go ahead with this idea, that means in the 2026 All-Star game, fans will get to watch Team USA vs the World. It also happens to be ironic that the festivities will be held at the Crypto.com Arena, home of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Shai-Gilgeous Alexander, Luka Doncic and Giannis Antetokounmpo could lineup for Team World at 2026 All-Star game
Shai-Gilgeous Alexander, Luka Doncic, and Giannis Antetokounmpo could lineup for Team World at 2026 All-Star game (Image via Open Source/X)

That sets it up nicely for LeBron James to lead Team USA to take on Nikola Jokic and the World team. Many believe next season will be the 40-year-old’s last, and what better way than to finish it out by leading the country to a win.

It will not be easy, considering the World team could feature a starting lineup of Jokic, James’ Lakers teammate Luka Doncic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, MVP Shai-Gilgeous Alexander, and Victor Wembanyama. Defeating this lineup will need a lot more than just sheer will.

However, Team USA’s depth could be a lot better than what the World team can put together. If LeBron James can lead the Americans to a famous win, he will likely retire with his reputation in a slightly better position than what he currently enjoys amongst his critics.

Adam Silver uses NFL example to talk about small-market teams in the NBA Finals

With the Indiana Pacers set to travel to face the Oklahoma City Thunder, fans and media want to see if the two teams can muster up some magic. The panel of Breakfast Ball asked Adam Silver if those two small-market teams could help the league garner ratings.

If we were going into a Super Bowl and it was Packers against Steelers, you guys would celebrate that. People won’t be talking about that Pittsburgh is a small market.

Adam Silver said

This reference was not exactly the perfect comparison with either of the two teams facing off in the NBA Finals. The Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers are two of the most storied franchises in NFL history.

On the contrary, neither of the two NBA Finalists has ever won a title. However, his point was that both the Thunder and Pacers could start a legacy of their own by winning their first despite being in smaller markets.

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