The NBA’s revamped All-Star Game is supposed to increase interest by pitting two teams of American All-Stars vs. one team of international players. Now injuries and replacement players are showing that the idea of nationality is more fluid than the format suggests.
Thursday, NBA commissioner Adam Silver named American-born De’Aaron Fox of the San Antonio Spurs as the All-Star replacement for Greek-born Giannis Antetokounmpo. To accommodate this change, Norman Powell will move from Team USA to Team World, despite being born in San Diego.
NBA’s nationalistic format runs into numbers issues
One problem with the NBA’s new All-Star format is that it requires 16 American All-Stars and eight international stars, though the NBA can add extra players so no side is short-handed. It used to be that an injured player was replaced by someone from his conference. Now, the determination took into account citizenship.
World starter Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Canada) was replaced by Alperen Sengun (Turkey) and Team USA starter Steph Curry was replaced by Brandon Ingram. When the teams ended up with nine international All-Stars versus 15 Americans, Silver added Kawhi Leonard to the American side.
But the whole concept is fluid. There were nine members of Team World because Karl-Anthony Towns, born in New Jersey, plays internationally for the Dominican Republic because of his Dominican mother. Powell committed to playing for Team Jamaica in FIBA qualifiers due to his Jamaican heritage, though he apparently would have stayed on Team USA without injuries.
NBA chose heated year for Team USA vs. World
The NBA is always tinkering with its All-Star format, having gone with different configurations in each of the last four seasons. This year has seen the United States rocked with clashes between immigration authorities and protesters, which have included a number of deaths.
While the league is trying to showcase its international appeal, it’s an odd time to divide players by nationality. Especially since players don’t seem to have such strict ideas about national borders.
Scottie Barnes, on the Team USA Stars squad, is considering playing for Team Jamaica in FIBA qualifiers. Donovan Mitchell, on Team USA Stripes, told Andscape that he wanted to play for the World team to honor his Panamanian heritage. Joel Embiid was born in Cameroon, played for Team USA at the Olympics and also holds French citizenship. It’s all nebulous.
The NBA has to separate its stars somehow for the game, so using heritage and age isn’t any worse than having teams drafted by “Inside the NBA” personalities, like last season. But this year’s selection process has revealed that players aren’t buying into the national distinctions that are defining the All-Stars’ opponents.