Wembanyama's All-Star Challenge May Not Work

The NBA is trying to make the All-Star Game more competitive, but players are skeptical a new format can fix the issue.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Victor Wembanyama, the San Antonio Spurs star, has called out the lack of competitiveness in the NBA All-Star Game, saying he would never step on the court to lose or not care. The league has tried different formats to increase the intensity, including a team captain system and adding a target score in the fourth quarter. However, some players like Kawhi Leonard and Anthony Edwards doubt that any format change can truly make the All-Star Game as competitive as a regular season game. The issue has been debated for years, with players like Kevin Durant and Nikola Jokić arguing the problem lies with certain players' effort levels rather than the format itself.

Why it matters

The NBA All-Star Game is one of the league's marquee events, but it has struggled in recent years to maintain a high level of competitiveness. As the league continues to try new formats to address this issue, it highlights the challenge of balancing entertainment value with the players' desire to actually compete. Wembanyama's vocal criticism puts the spotlight on this ongoing debate and the league's efforts to find a solution.

The details

Wembanyama, who was selected to both the Rising Stars challenge and the All-Star game in his rookie season, called out the lack of effort from some players in the All-Star Game. He said he would never step on the court to lose or not care. The league has tried various format changes over the years, including a team captain system and adding a target score in the fourth quarter, but the issue of competitiveness has persisted. Some players like Curry have suggested shortening the game, while others like Durant and Jokić argue the problem lies with certain players' effort levels rather than the format.

  • In 2025, the NBA switched to a team captain format for the All-Star Game, with the top vote-getters in each conference drafting their rosters.
  • In 2022, the league added a target score to the fourth quarter in honor of Kobe Bryant, which seemed to work at first but has not consistently increased the competitiveness.

The players

Victor Wembanyama

The San Antonio Spurs rookie who has been vocal about his desire to see more competitiveness in the NBA All-Star Game.

Adam Silver

The NBA commissioner who has overseen efforts to make the All-Star Game more competitive, including changing the format.

Kawhi Leonard

The Los Angeles Clippers forward who believes no format change can truly make the All-Star Game as competitive as a regular season game.

Anthony Edwards

The Minnesota Timberwolves star who bluntly stated that the new format cannot replicate the intensity of the Olympics.

Kevin Durant

The Brooklyn Nets star who has been vocal about the lack of competitiveness from certain players in the All-Star Game.

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What they’re saying

“Obviously, it hasn't been competitive. I've always thought myself that, if I was in there, I'm never stepping on to the court to lose. Or not caring ... I'm thinking it's (not) OK to lose.”

— Victor Wembanyama (si.com)

“We sell competition, and I think that our players recognize they're not putting their best foot forward when there's a sense that not (everyone is) all-in on playing an All-Star Game.”

— Adam Silver, NBA Commissioner (si.com)

“I think the only thing I would think about is shortening the game. That might be the only real suggestion I would have just because it's hard to replicate the intensity of a regular season game ... (but) a shorter game, maybe.”

— Stephen Curry (si.com)

“I've been watching (past) All-Star Games and the intensity the older generation been talking about. I don't know if I've seen it.”

— Kevin Durant (si.com)

“I'm just having fun. Sometimes, when you're having fun and not thinking about the outcome, you just let your instincts take over.”

— Giannis Antetokounmpo (si.com)

What’s next

The NBA will continue to experiment with different formats and rules changes to try to increase the competitiveness of the All-Star Game, but it remains to be seen if any of these efforts will be successful in addressing the underlying issue of player effort and engagement.

The takeaway

The lack of competitiveness in the NBA All-Star Game has been a long-standing issue, and the league's efforts to address it through format changes have yet to produce a consistently intense and engaging product. As players like Wembanyama and Durant continue to voice their concerns, the NBA must find a way to balance entertainment value with the players' desire to actually compete at a high level.