NBA All-Star: Wembanyama's Light Shines on "USA Versus the World"

The decisive match for the winner of the NBA All-Star 2026 between Team Stars and Team Stripes ended in an anticlimax. The score difference between the two teams was 26 points. So, does this duel depict a story of a "star war" that is as boring as in recent editions? Not at all.

The Stars team, consisting mostly of young stars, including Anthony Edwards and Cade Cunningham, successfully lifted the All-Star trophy at the Intuit Dome Stadium in Inglewood, California, on Monday (16/2/2026 WIB). They won decisively with a score of 47-21 against the Stripes team, led by veteran megastar LeBron James.

The final match was indeed less exciting, as reflected in the score. However, that was merely a garnish to the overall celebration, akin to the concept of a dessert in a lavish dinner. The audience was treated to "nutritious" actions from the beginning to the end of the event, especially during the group stage.

This year's All-Star event, held at the home of the Los Angeles Clippers, featured a different format titled "United States Versus the World." Three teams were formed, each consisting of eight players. The Stars and Stripes teams represented the United States, while the World team comprised international players.

They will first face a round-robin format, with each team meeting in the group stage. They are only given one quarter or 1x12 minutes. The two best teams in the group stage will advance to the final match. The audience will be presented with four games, totaling 48 minutes, which is the same duration as in regular NBA games.

"All three teams gave their all and performed well. This is clearly an improvement in terms of competitiveness compared to before. It feels great to be there with great players, both new and veteran, as well as international ones," said Kevin Durant, a player for Team Stripes who has appeared in the All-Star 15 times.

The show opened brilliantly with Team Stars and Team World. The duel ended dramatically. Team World, led by French center Victor Wembanyama, was already leading 32-29 with 24 seconds remaining. Then, Edwards tied the score with a three-pointer, forcing overtime.

In the extension period, the team is declared the winner if they score five points first. Edwards and his teammates turned the situation around and won 37-35, leading 5-3 in the overtime. The match was so competitive that Wembanyama appeared very frustrated after Scottie Barnes' winning shot.

The anticlimactic duel between Team Stars and Team Stripes in the final can be forgiven due to their previous encounter. They had already competed very closely in the group match. Team Stripes managed to win first thanks to a three-point shot by De’Aaron Fox at the end of the game, which turned the score to 42-40.

Competitive. That one word separates this All-Star edition from previous ones. The players are committed to defense. They, though not all, are all out for the ball, both in attempts to rebound and steal. Normal fouls are rare, so it's a common sight.

The climax unfolded in the decisive match for a ticket to the final between Team Stripes and Team World. The home star, Kawhi Leonard, took control by scoring 31 points in just one quarter. Team Stripes also won 48-45 thanks to his shot from the three-point line in the final seconds.

The NBA has struggled to create a competitive atmosphere in recent years. Formats such as "West Versus East" and captain duels have not worked well. These formats are considered standard, involving only two teams and utilizing a single game consisting of four quarters.

Edwards, the 2026 All-Star Most Valuable Player, said this edition's format is the best yet. "I like this format. It makes us competitive because it's only 12 minutes and there are three different teams separating the participants," said the Minnesota Timberwolves guard.

In reality, the format of the 2025 All-Star edition is not significantly different from the most recent one. There are four teams competing in a knockout system, each representing groups of young players, veterans, and international players. These teams are led by coaches who are legendary basketball figures, one of whom is Shaquille O’Neal.

Not a success, that edition instead became one of the worst in the history of the "star wars." The last two editions have proven that while the format does have an impact, nothing is more important than the players on the field. They are responsible for the competitive atmosphere that the audience will experience.

The 2026 edition could be a success thanks to the encouragement of Edwards and Wembanyama. They lit the fires of the competition from the opening game. The two young players were explosive throughout, treating the All-Star Game like a playoff. Both players appear to be aiming for their first All-Star MVP award.

Team World boasts two superstar basketball players, Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic. However, they didn't give their all for the entertainment. Unlike Wemby, Wembanyama's nickname, who tried to jump as high as possible at tip-off in the first game.

Wemby totaled 33 points and 8 rebounds in 20 minutes of play. Notably, the San Antonio Spurs player generated three blocks. The number of blocks demonstrated his seriousness in defense. Despite not winning MVP and advancing to the final, Wemby was showered with praise. "He created that (competitive) atmosphere, and it woke me up," Edwards said.

Edwards' competitive spirit is undeniable. He is a competitive player in the NBA today. Beyond his game, the 2024 Paris Olympic gold medalist is also adept at provoking opponents with words, often referred to as "trash talk." Edwards was named MVP for leading his team to the championship with a total of 32 points and 8 rebounds.

The absence of NBA icons Stephen Curry, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Giannis Antetokounmpo, who are currently injured, was hardly felt. Thanks to Wemby and Edwards, other players were motivated to showcase their best performances. Leonard, 34 years old, was determined not to be outdone on his home court. He was inspired and scored the highest points in a single game (31 points).

The NBA has so many local stars who could actually boost the prestige of the All-Star game back to the 90s and 2000s era. Who would have thought that the person taking on that responsibility is a 22-year-old basketball player from France, Wemby. "This is a game that we love. Being competitive is the least I can do," emphasized Wemby. (AP/REUTERS)