NBA Plans International All-Star Format, Partners Amazon NBC

The NBA is undergoing notable changes reflecting its growing international influence and evolving fan engagement strategies. For the 2024-2025 NBA MVP award, the finalists—Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander—are all international players, continuing a recent trend where non-Americans dominate this prestigious accolade, underscoring the league's global talent pool. In response to shifting audience dynamics, the NBA revamped its 2025 All-Star Weekend format, moving away from the traditional game to a triangular tournament, which received lukewarm reactions. Looking ahead to 2026, the league plans to introduce a new All-Star format centered on a Team USA versus Team World competition, aligning with global sports events like the Winter Olympics and leveraging partnerships with broadcasters Amazon Prime Video and NBC to reach a wider international audience. Additionally, the NBA 2K video game series reflects the league's evolving landscape by featuring a variety of cover athletes, from historic icons like Allen Iverson and Kobe Bryant to emerging stars, highlighting basketball’s broad appeal and diverse talent. These developments collectively illustrate the NBA’s strategic pivot toward embracing and celebrating its international presence and global fanbase.