LOS ANGELES — The NBA’s midseason showcase arrives at Intuit Dome from Feb. 13-15, offering three days of competition that will feature up-and-coming prospects, a familiar 3-point champion returning from injury and a first-ever three-team All-Star Game.
Friday: Rising Stars and Celebrity Game
The weekend begins Friday at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN with the annual celebrity matchup, highlighted this year by team owners Mat Ishbia (Phoenix Suns) and Rick Schnall (Charlotte Hornets) sharing the floor with NFL wide receivers Keenan Allen and Amon-Ra St. Brown. NBA insider Shams Charania also joins the roster one week after the trade deadline.
At 9 p.m. ET on Peacock, 21 rookies and sophomores take part in the Castrol Rising Stars mini-tournament. No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg is out with a foot sprain, moving Rookie of the Year candidate Kon Knueppel into the spotlight alongside Dylan Harper, VJ Edgecombe and reigning Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle. Hall of Famers Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady drafted the four seven-player squads; a panel of league insiders favors Team Melo to win the event.
Saturday: 3-Point, Shooting Stars and Dunk Contest
All-Star Saturday tips at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. The State Farm 3-Point Contest features eight shooters and a potential milestone: Damian Lillard, sidelined all season with a torn Achilles, seeks a record-tying third title after victories in 2023 and 2024. He is joined by league leader Donovan Mitchell, Tyrese Maxey, Devin Booker, Norman Powell, Jamal Murray, Bobby Portis and rookie Kon Knueppel. Insider balloting projects Lillard as the favorite.
The Kia Shooting Stars competition returns for the first time since 2015 with three-player lineups consisting of two active NBA athletes and one retired star. Family ties headline Team Harper, which unites Ron Harper with sons Dylan and Ron Jr., while Team Knicks is the pick of the experts.
The Dunk Contest includes veteran center Jaxson Hayes, second-year forward Keshad Johnson, and rookies Carter Bryant and Jase Richardson—the latter attempting to match the back-to-back crowns his father, Jason Richardson, captured in 2002-03. Analysts give a slight edge to Johnson.
Sunday: Three-Team All-Star Game
Sunday’s main event introduces a Team USA vs. The World format, split into USA Stars, USA Stripes and a single Team World. The round-robin begins at 5 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock, with the top two squads advancing to a championship period. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Stephen Curry have withdrawn, but the field still includes LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Anthony Edwards and Victor Wembanyama. The World roster lists only one guard—Jamal Murray—while every other player stands at least 6-foot-8. Insider voting tabs Team World as the early favorite.
The 2026 festivities mark what could be James’s final All-Star appearance and serve as the league’s latest attempt to drive competitiveness into the midseason classic.
Source: ESPN
