By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
CHICAGO – The All-Star Game returns to Chicago, one of the biggest US cities and, on the other hand, is a showcase for international talent more than ever.
A record eight international players are NBA All-Stars: Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece), Luka Dončić (Slovenia), Joel Embiid (Cameroon), Rudy Gobert (France), Nikola Jokić (Serbia), Domantas Sabonis (Lithuania), Pascal Siakam (Cameroon) and Ben Simmons (Australia).
Giannis is one of the team captains for the second straight year, and once more, it seems that it’s just a matter of time for a US team vs. a World team format to be used in the All-Star Game. After all, it’s already happening in the NBA Rising Stars game with a record four Canadians are participating in NBA Rising Stars, the most ever from a non-U.S. country: Nickeil Alexander-Walker, RJ Barrett, Brandon Clarke, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
In total, a record 19 international players from 15 countries are set to participate in NBA Rising Stars, State Farm All-Star Saturday Night, and the NBA All-Star Game.
And the world media are responding. More than 420 international media members from 53 countries and territories are traveling to Chicago to cover NBA All-Star 2020.
Eurohoops is among them, bringing you all the action straight from Chicago.