If you’re still clinging to the idea that this year’s NBA Finals are missing star power, Adam Silver would like a word. The Commissioner isn’t losing sleep over the absence of LeBron, Steph, or KD—and he doesn’t think you should either. In his eyes, the Finals are doing just fine in the star department. You’re just looking in the wrong direction.

Adam Silver doubled down on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Tyrese Haliburton as legitimate headliners, calling Shai an “enormous star” and Haliburton a “huge star.” Not just for what they’ve done this season, but for what they’re doing right now—on the biggest stage. He made it clear: star power is earned here, in the Finals, not gifted because you have a billion-dollar shoe deal.

And these two? They’ve more than earned it. Shai, fresh off an MVP season, has turned the Thunder into a defensive nightmare and an offensive puzzle nobody’s cracked. He’s averaging over 30 a night in the playoffs, with clutch buckets and cold-blooded calm. Haliburton, meanwhile, has turned Indiana into must-watch TV. Nearly 10 assists per game, big-time shotmaking, and court vision that has defenders spinning. He’s not just hooping—he’s orchestrating.

This Finals isn’t lacking stars—it’s creating them. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Tyrese Haliburton are redefining what leadership looks like in the modern NBA. Their paths weren’t glamorous. Neither was a top-5 pick. Both were traded. But here they are, battling for a title—and commanding the spotlight.

Silver knows what’s at stake. As LeBron and Steph inch toward the twilight of their careers, the league needs new faces to carry the torch. Shai and Tyrese aren’t just next up. They’re now.

Adam Silver wants the All-Star Game to matter too

The NBA Commissioner isn’t just defending the star power of the 2025 Finals—Adam Silver is also aiming to revive another fading part of the league: the All-Star Game. Once a flagship event, it has lost its shine. Low effort, no defense, and bored fans have taken over. The failed 2025 tournament-style format made things worse. Silver admitted bluntly, “It was a miss. We haven’t yet created an All-Star game that we can be proud of, nor one that our players can take pride in.” That is set to change in 2026.

Speaking on FS1’s Breakfast Ball, Silver announced a bold new plan: a USA vs. World format. Inspired by the NHL’s Four Nations Face-Off, the All-Star Game will become a patriotic battle of basketball cultures. It will align with NBC’s Winter Olympics coverage. This gives the league a huge platform and taps into national pride worldwide.

Adam Silver said, “What better time to showcase some form of USA against the world?” He added, “I closely observed the NHL’s approach, which turned out to be a significant success.” However, Silver knows this is more than just changing team names—it’s a cultural reset. For the All-Star Game to matter again, players must care. To raise the stakes, the league is exploring ideas like linking results to playoff seeding, affecting draft lottery odds, and offering bigger financial rewards.

Still, the pressure mounts. ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith warned that if this format fails, the NBA might scrap All-Star Weekend altogether. This generation’s legacy could take a serious hit.

Ultimately, Adam Silver isn’t here to protect egos or old traditions. He wants to build something worth watching. And if this new generation of stars wants the spotlight, they must earn it—every night, every game, even in February.