Luka Doncic spent the summer relentlessly working on his conditioning. That may have been easier than taking on the infamous ‘Hot Ones’ challenge. The Slovenian survived the death wing and, on his way, gave some juicy takes. Notably, there’s been news of a new event coming to the All-Star weekend. And Doncic wants to see one breathtaking matchup.

There have been whispers about the introduction of a one-on-one tournament for the NBA’s hallmark weekend. As offense grows to astronomical heights, the talent pool is vast. Luka Doncic, though, wants to see one particular battle, between his former teammate- Kyrie Irving and the Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama.

Speaking on Hot Ones, Doncic said, “That’s a tough question. so many good players, but I feel like Wemby is going to be there because one-on-one, you really can’t score on him. It’s very tough. The second one probably put Kyrie in there. You know, his one-on-one moves are insane. So, in between those two,”. Sean Evans put it together perfectly. It would be like a battle between David and Goliath.

Both players have vastly different ways of playing. With Kyrie Irving, Doncic has seen his nastiness from the best seat. A southpaw game winner or a brutal dribble package, KAI is the complete offensive package. However, in front is an anomaly, standing at 7’4”, who can dominate on both ends of the floor.

Players have passed up easy dunks in a five-on-five game just because Victor Wembanyama patrols the paint. And offensively, he too has the dribbles and the spacing to trouble defenders. The duo has faced off, with Irving getting bragging rights after expertly hitting a layup against Wemby. But, with just two guys on the floor, the game is different.

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Notably, the two superstars have given us a glimpse of Luka’s prediction.

In the 2025 NBA All-Star, Wemby featured in his first All-Star appearance, playing for Charles Barkley’s “Global Stars” squad. Irving, meanwhile, in his ninth All-Star selection (as an injury replacement for Anthony Davis), suited up for Shaquille O’Neal’s “OGs” team. Their teams met in the championship final, where Shaq’s OGs defeated Chuck’s Global Stars.

The standout moment of their matchup came during the final when Irving isolated Wembanyama in a one-on-one sequence. Irving used his elite ball-handling to cross over the towering rookie with a hesitation dribble and step-back fake, creating just enough separation for a step-through drive to the rim.

Wembanyama’s length disrupted the finish, forcing a miss on the layup attempt- though some observers noted it as a potential travel in the loose All-Star officiating.

This play highlighted the generational contrast: Irving’s crafty, low-to-the-ground wizardry against Wembanyama’s rim protection and perimeter recovery speed. Irving later dazzled with a self-alley-oop off the backboard in the same game, showing off his showmanship.

Irving doesn’t have trouble breaking down bigs. The trouble is stopping a 7’4” force. But how real are the rumors about this event?

Adam Silver is open to making changes

The All-Star weekend’s allure is fast falling. Players prioritize health, which has made the marquee game an almost boring affair. This past season, Silver tried to shorten the length of the game, hoping players would be more open to playing with intent. However, that wasn’t a complete success either. So the commissioner changed it again.

The All-Star game is back to its old ways. There will be a regular game. However, LeBron James can’t pick his teammate Luka Doncic even if he is the captain. Adam Silver revealed a ‘USA vs the World’ theme for this season.

Giannis Antetokounmpo was among the stars who strongly supported the idea. “I would love that. I think that would be the most interesting, exciting format. That would give me extra juice to compete.”

That kind of move alone likely wouldn’t shake things up to the level Giannis envisions. It’s always going to be difficult to convince players to go all-out in what’s essentially a midseason exhibition. No matter how the format changes, self-preservation and the fear of injury will always outweigh the incentive to compete at full throttle.

But maybe Silver heard his plea, followed by the fans’ response. If he did, maybe the one-on-one tournament could come soon.

Silver understands that listening to the fans is the safest path to a successful weekend. And they have been obsessed with the opportunity to see a battle to determine to best.

It becomes personal for players, as their reputation is literally on the line. Moreover, the physicality is significantly reduced, allowing All-Stars to play freely.

Antetokounmpo raved about the possibility of having such an opportunity. If it happens, imaginations come to reality. With the diverse talent the NBA has, unique matchups will sweep fans off their feet. It’s an idea everyone wants, and Adam Silver is observant.