Heat's Dwyane Wade: Make NBA All-Star a Vacation

Merlin hears Heat legend Dwyane Wade urging the NBA to stop holding the All-Star Game in the middle of the season: "I don't feel like we should stop and do the All-Star Game in middle of season no more," he said, adding it should be "a trip, a vacation, an experience" for players and families. His plea comes as the league rolls out a new 2025-26 three-team, round-robin format amid growing worry the showcase has lost competitive meaning. Merlin thinks the pitch has real magic — a later, festival-style All-Star could restore star commitment and give fans and families a true celebration. Yet the league must balance TV deals, calendar congestion and playoff rhythm. The Feb. 15, 2025-26 experiment (two U.S. teams, one international, three 12-minute matchups) will reveal whether change is cosmetic or the start of something bigger.