Get ready, Los Angeles! The NBA's brightest stars are descending upon your city for an unforgettable All-Star Weekend, but this year, it's not just about the game itself. A significant shake-up in the format promises to keep everyone on the edge of their seats!
As the first half of the NBA season draws to a close, basketball's elite are taking a well-deserved break that will be anything but quiet. From Friday, February 12th, 2026, through Sunday, Los Angeles will be buzzing with a packed schedule of events, culminating in a brand-new format for the coveted All-Star Game. This year's festivities are set to take place at the state-of-the-art Intuit Dome, the impressive new home of the Los Angeles Clippers, which opened its doors in 2024.
Friday: Celebrities, Legends, and Rising Talents Take the Stage
The excitement kicks off on Friday at 4 p.m. PST with the always entertaining All-Star Celebrity Game, held at the iconic Kia Forum. This year's roster is a star-studded mix of actors, musicians, and former athletes, featuring names like rapper GloRilla, former Laker Jeremy Lin, NFL stars Amon-Ra St. Brown and Keenan Allen, the towering Tacko Fall, and the hilarious Keegan-Michael Key. Guiding these diverse talents will be a coaching panel including Milwaukee Bucks' MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and his brothers Alex and Thanasis, Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts, comedian Anthony Anderson, and social media sensation @lethalshooter.
Following the celebrity showdown, the Kia Forum will host the NBA HBCU Classic at 8 p.m. PST, a celebration of collegiate basketball talent from Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
Meanwhile, over at the Intuit Dome, the future of the NBA will be on display. The Castrol Rising Stars mini-tournament begins at 6 p.m. PST. This event pits the league's youngest prospects and G-League standouts against each other in a series of games, leading up to the Castrol Rising Stars Championship game at 7:35 p.m. PST. Esteemed former NBA stars like Carmelo Anthony, Austin Rivers, Tracy McGrady, and Vince Carter will be at the helm, coaching teams featuring promising talents such as Cooper Flagg (Dallas Mavericks), VJ Edgecombe (Philadelphia 76ers), Kon Knueppel (Charlotte Hornets), Reed Sheppard (Houston Rockets), Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper (both of the San Antonio Spurs).
Saturday: Media Day, Skill Showdowns, and Historic Returns
Saturday begins with All-Star Media Day at the Intuit Dome, starting at 10:30 a.m. PST, offering fans and media a chance to connect with their favorite players. The afternoon, beginning at 2 p.m. PST, is dedicated to the thrilling All-Star Saturday events. This includes the fan-favorite Slam Dunk Contest and the sharpshooting 3-Point Contest, along with the much-anticipated return of the NBA Shooting Stars competition.
The 3-Point Contest features an impressive lineup of eight sharpshooters, including Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns), Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers), Donovan Mitchell (Cleveland Cavaliers), Bobby Portis (Milwaukee Bucks), Kon Knueppel (Charlotte Hornets), Tyrese Maxey (Philadelphia 76ers), Jamal Murray (Denver Nuggets), and Norman Powell (Miami Heat).
But here's where it gets interesting: the NBA Shooting Stars competition makes its triumphant return for the first time since 2015! This unique, two-round contest pairs current NBA players with basketball legends. Each team will have 70 seconds to hit shots from seven different spots on the court. The teams competing are:
- Team All-Star: Scottie Barnes (Toronto Raptors), Chet Holmgren (Oklahoma City Thunder), and NBA Champion Richard Hamilton.
- Team Knicks: Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks), Karl Anthony Towns (New York Knicks), and Knicks legend Allan Houston.
- Team Cameron: Kon Knueppel (Charlotte Hornets), Jalen Johnson (Atlanta Hawks), and Duke legend Corey Maggette. This team's name is a clever nod to Cameron Indoor Stadium, the hallowed ground where these players honed their skills in college.
- Team Harper: Dylan Harper (San Antonio Spurs), Ron Harper Jr. (Boston Celtics), and five-time NBA Champion Ron Harper. What makes this team particularly special is that Ron Harper is the father of both Dylan and Ron Harper Jr., adding a unique family dynamic to the competition.
Concluding the night is the electrifying AT&T Slam Dunk Contest, featuring four incredible athletes: Jaxson Hayes (Los Angeles Lakers), Carter Bryant (San Antonio Spurs), Keshad Johnson (Miami Heat), and Jase Richardson (Orlando Magic).
Sunday: A Revolutionary All-Star Game Format
Sunday will see the NBA G League Next Up Game, the NBA G League AT&T Slam Dunk competition, and the NBA G League State Farm 3-Point Contest all taking place at the Los Angeles Convention Center, which also hosts the NBA Crossover event throughout the weekend. The G League events begin at 11:30 p.m. PST.
And this is the part most people miss: the main event, the NBA All-Star Game, has undergone a radical transformation! Forget the traditional East vs. West showdown. This year, the champion will be crowned through a four-game tournament featuring three distinct teams composed of the league's best players. The rosters have been strategically divided by age and nationality.
The teams are:
- Team USA Stars: A squad of younger American talents including Scottie Barnes (Toronto Raptors), Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns), Cade Cunningham (Detroit Pistons), Jalen Duren (Detroit Pistons), Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves), Chet Holmgren (Oklahoma City Thunder), Jalen Johnson (Atlanta Hawks), and Tyrese Maxey (Philadelphia 76ers).
- Team USA Stripes: A veteran-laden American team featuring Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics), Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks), Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors), Kevin Durant (Houston Rockets), LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers), Kawhi Leonard (Los Angeles Clippers), Donovan Mitchell (Cleveland Cavaliers), and Norman Powell (Miami Heat).
- Team World: An international all-star collection boasting Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks), Deni Avdija (Portland Trail Blazers), Luka Doncic (Los Angeles Lakers), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder), Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets), Jamal Murray (Denver Nuggets), Pascal Siakam (Indiana Pacers), Karl-Anthony Towns (New York Knicks), and the phenom Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs).
The tournament structure is as follows: Game One pits Team USA Stars against Team World. The winner of that game will then face Team USA Stripes in Game Two. Game Three will see Team USA Stripes take on the loser of the first game, leading up to the All-Star Championship Game at 4:10 p.m. PST.
Now, the big question: Does this new tournament format, splitting teams by age and nationality, truly represent the best of the NBA, or does it dilute the traditional spirit of the All-Star Game? What are your thoughts on this bold departure from the norm? Let us know in the comments below!
