It is no secret that the past couple of iterations of the All-Star Game have felt a bit underwhelming from the fan perspective. The Association tried to implement the tournament-style format to push players to treat the game with at least some dose of seriousness. Heck, they even tried to give out financial incentives, like they needed any more.
However, it didn't matter much. The effort stayed the same, and the fans tuned out.
Now, there are some speculations that next in the line of business for the Commissioner to bring back that desired spark for the whole weekend festivities is a one-on-one tournament. And, to be honest, on paper, it does sound exciting.
One of the guys who is in favor of that idea is Tracy McGrady , who believes this could not only bring back excitement but also create more stars in a league that's currently transitioning from the old guard. Because let's face it — LeBron James , Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry aren't going to be around forever. Their names still drive attention, but the league has to start thinking about the next wave of star power.
"Sorry, NBC if I'm not supposed to be telling this, but I think they gonna have one-on-one in the All-Star," McGrady said in his recent appearance on "The Arena."
"Let's take our older superstars out. When you get rid of KD, Steph and them boys, how many superstars in our league? Not that many, right. So we gotta create more stars," he added. "How do you create stars in our league? One-one-one. Because you know who is the guys that are going to get in? Them boys that are 10th and 11th on the bench. Them the guys that are going to get in and now you creating stars in another category in our game."
The NBA is a business that thrives on its superstars. But at the same time, a format like this would open the door for guys who don't always get the opportunity to shine during the season. It would give them a platform to show they can do damage in an environment stripped down to the basics: one player against another, no excuses and, most importantly, no hiding.
Apart from offering lesser-known players a chance to make a name for themselves, this could also be a way for some of the established names to put their pride on the line. Imagine the buzz if one of the league's elite scorers was willing to go head-to-head for bragging rights in front of the whole world. In fact, Durant , one of the purest scorers the league has ever seen, has already hinted at his own willingness to play if the prize is enticing enough.
"Yeah, I'll play," Durantula once said . "I just need to know what type of ones we would play in, man. If you go with ones, then it's a five-second shot clock, play to 11.
That kind of talk alone makes fans perk up. It adds another layer to the All-Star festivities and this one indeed feels personal. This idea has been floating around for quite some time, but now it looks like it could actually be confirmed really soon. And as McGrady pointed out, it's the type of event that could give fans the jolt they've been waiting for. After all, in a one-on-one battle, there are no excuses.
And if that finally becomes a reality, you can bet we'll all be watching to see who comes out victorious in this format where players can blame no one but themselves.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Sep 12, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
