A new format, more teams and greater effort was all visible in the 2025 All-Star game. However, the large number of commercials and non-basketball related matters did disaude the fan from getting the entire experience. Although an arguable improvement from last season, it’s clear that the weekend needs a kick. And what if it happens to be the request fans have been asking for years. Who wouldn’t want to see a Giannis Antetokounmpo vs Kevin Durant matchup again, but this time just them two?

That’s among the ideas Adam Silver and the NBA is considering to bring next year to Los Angeles. Fans have been begging for a one-on-one tournament for a long time. Recently, it was the Unrivaled League that delivered on that idea. The best female basketball players stepped onto the court, and left their prides on the line.

According to Front Office Sports, the NBA resonated with the success of that product and is seriously considering bringing it to the 2026 All-Star weekend in Los Angeles.

The tournament will be just as endorsed. The best isolation scorers and behemoths of the game will take on each other in a classic park-like contest. In such a setting, it’s unlikely for an individual player to not devote themselves to discharging effort. Self-respect is on the line after all. Furthermore, the league will provide a larger incentive than ever to ensure player’s take the contest serious.

As per FOS, Adam Silver plans to have a $1 million prize for the winner of the competition. Imagine, dexterous scorers such as Kyrie Irving and James Harden battling it out with thousands itching for action? The idea is still in the early stages of fruition. But the players are already enthralled by the prospect of having such a design in place.

Giannis Antetokounmpo assures his participation

The new tournament brought together many quizzing questions for players. Amongst the various ideas, Giannis Antetokounmpo suggested taking the All-Star game to international destinations and play a USA vs The World format. In addition, the Greek Freak was also asked about a possible one-on-one tournament.

For Antetokounmpo, competing is the essence of his character. And all it took for him to sign up was the fractional possibility of the NBA hosting such a competition.

“Oh yeah for sure. If I had the chance to play one on one with anybody, I would love to do it. And anything that can make the weekend more exciting, more fun for the viewers for the fans and the players, I would love to participate. I have done every competition I think. I have done the skills challenge, the dunk contest, I haven’t done the three-point shooting. But if it’s a one-on-one competition I would love to participate,” the Bucks mainstay said.

However, it did come with a fair warning from his side. Because it’s one man against another, Giannis Antetokounmpo feels the tournament can’t be one by microwave scoring alone. “You got to get a stop to get the ball. If you don’t get a stop, you’re not getting the ball. So it’s kinda hard,” he said.

Nonetheless, as fans wanting to see the competitive juices kick in to the weekend again, a on-on-one tournament could be the perfect remedy. All that remains is for Adam Silver to push the idea ahead. The players are waiting.