Victor Wembanyama is no stranger to competition. The international superstar has been highly competitive since arriving in the NBA, showcasing high-level skills with a fiery drive for success. With that, it should come as no shock that Wembanyama is taking his first All-Star appearance very seriously, as he has sent out a message to all of the other players he will match up against, and perhaps some of his teammates.
Victor Wembanyama Looking To Bring the Juice to the NBA All-Star Game
“I hope I can bring that contrast of a single guy who goes crazy, dives on the ball, hustles every play,” Wembanyama said, highlighting a desire to bring a new-found energy to the 2025 NBA All-Star Game, one that has been heavily criticized in recent years for its lackadaisical effort from the stars.
Wemby says he’s “definitely” trying to bring that energy to his first-ever NBA All-Star game 🗣️🔥
(via @JMcDonald_SAEN) pic.twitter.com/ApTq7naYvQ
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 13, 2025
Despite a few instances of heightened competition (2018 and 2020, namely), the All-Star Game has always felt like a fun pickup game between the league’s biggest names. Wembanyama’s approach to the game will be one to watch, as his competitive fire could be infectious, causing the other stars to have to keep up.
His statement sounds like he is calling out other stars to step up. Will they answer the call? Wembanyama will be playing alongside the top two MVP candidates, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokić on Charles Barkley’s Global Stars team, as they take on Kenny Smith’s Young Stars team in the first game of the All-Star Game tournament.
Adam Silver Makes All-Star Game Changes
The All-Star Game is going through a set of changes, as four teams will take the court on Sunday, Feb. 16 instead of the usual two in a brand new tournament concept.
This change is intended to make the game more competitive, following a small round-robin bracket before determining a champion. The teams are led by the panel of “Inside The NBA,” as Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kenny Smith drafted their rosters.
READ MORE: Explaining the New NBA All-Star Game Format — Everything You Need To Know
Candace Parker will lead the Rising Stars team, which will feature either NBA rookies, sophomores, or standout players from the NBA G League, depending on which team wins the Rising Stars competition. While it may sound like Parker’s team might be at a slight disadvantage, anything can happen in a single game.
The stakes are high for this new tournament-style All-Star weekend, as these four teams try to reach the promised land to win the $1.8 million prize pool.
Silver Spoke to NBA Stars About Effort
These changes to the All-Star Game are part of a concerted effort to make the game more exciting and competitive. Commissioner Adam Silver spoke to KNBR about the changes and how he turned to many All-Stars for ideas, including Stephen Curry.
“I’ve talked to Steph and many of the perennial All-Stars, none of them were proud of what you saw last year. … I’m hopeful for this year. We can get something that can be really fun and exciting for fans to watch.”
"I've talked to Steph and many of the perennial All-Stars, none of them were proud of what you saw last year… I'm hopeful for this year. We can get something that can be really fun and exciting for fans to watch."
Adam Silver told @knbrmurph & @MarkusBoucher he's confident… pic.twitter.com/Gj9nmaPbZx
— KNBR (@KNBR) February 11, 2025
Silver has lofty ambitions to make the All-Star Game more exciting and competitive, but it ultimately will come down to the players. Will the players show up ready to give it their all in this multi-game tournament? Time will tell.
