The format of the All-Star Game has changed once again, as it will be split between two Team USA and one Team World. The reason for this was to make the game more competitive, but ultimately it is the players who make it interesting, not the format. Nikola Jokic has been one of those players who has consistently been in the All-Star Game for the past few years, and there hasn’t been any change as far as how he plays.
During his media availability, he was asked if he would play anything differently this year because of the format, and as expected, he said nothing would change.
Jokic said, “I’m going to play the same way I play every year. I’m not sure it’s going to bring another fire out of me because I play the same way every game.”
“I’m going to play the same way I play every year. I’m not sure it’s going to bring another fire out of me because I play the same way every game. Not for me.”
Nikola Jokic shares his thoughts on the new All-Star format 🗣️pic.twitter.com/elrpATGq2S
– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 14 February 2026
Other players have noted that the competition starts with the players. Kawhi Leonard believes the game should go back to the classic East vs. West format.
“It’s going to start with the starters, whoever gets there first,” Leonard said. “For me, personally, we need to get back to the way it was, and if guys are going to play hard, they’ll play hard. I think it will be competitive this year. I don’t know what the format is like. But hopefully, guys are competing. They usually do, but it’s also an All-Star Game.”
There hasn’t been much competition during the All-Star Game in years past, and the most energy was when they were scoring goals. For some reason, they discontinued that format and created several different teams, and it did nothing to improve it.
It will be interesting to see if this new format changes any players’ approach to the game, because if not, they may have to make more changes.
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