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Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving.
Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
The NBA All-Star Weekend has become less and less of a must-watch television event.
Headliners like LeBron James are not participating, and the Slam Dunk Contest, which was once one of the main draws for audiences, has severely lacked big-name talent in recent years.
So what could possibly spice up the competition and also keep star players invested? Perhaps a challenge that recently debuted in the women’s game.
Dallas Mavericks point guard Kyrie Irving told Fox Sports’ Rachel Nichols ahead of Sunday’s All-Star game that he would be all for a one-on-one tournament, similar to the Unrivaled women’s league.
Kyrie Irving told me he’s *IN* for a 1-on-1 tourney at All-Star weekend; he said the key to getting players to participate is to change the way we talk about it: pic.twitter.com/s1HrmxkiLU
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) February 16, 2025
“I’m open to it,” Irving said. “When there’s smoke there’s fire, and I’m that fire in one-on-one.”
Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo also told Nichols he would participate in such a tournament at future All-Star festivities, but he stipulated players could only advance if they played defense, too.
Irving dismissed the idea that NBA players are afraid of getting “embarrassed” in a one-on-one style tournament, instead suggesting there needs to be a change in how that kind of event is presented.
“There has to be an appreciation … because you’ve got to commentate it a bit different than a five-on-five,” he said. “There’s an appreciation for seeing a 1v1 matchup that I think just goes beyond just what the traditional space is now.”
It seems like the interest in shaking things up is there, but the fine details will certainly need some work before anything solid develops for future All-Star competitions.
Austen Bundy is a journalist and sports junkie from the Washington, D. C. area
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