2026 NBA All-Star weekend preview: Dunks, stars and more

2026 NBA All-Star weekend preview: Dunks, stars and extra

February 12, 2026


Feb 12, 2026, 07:00 AM ET

The 2026 NBA All-Star Sport, happening at Intuit Dome close to Los Angeles, will tip off Friday with a plethora of celebrity gamers heading into Tinseltown for a jam-packed weekend.

Some recent new faces of the league get issues began with the Rising Stars showcase Friday. With No. 1 decide Cooper Flagg out via the All-Star break with harm, the younger troupe might be headlined by Rookie of the Yr contender Kon Knueppel.

On Saturday, the league’s top-tier skills will reveal their abilities within the 3-point shoot-off, taking pictures stars competitors and slam dunk contest. Most notably, Damian Lillard will take part within the 3-point contest regardless of an Achilles harm that has saved him out all the season. The 2-time 3-point champion might be challenged by Donovan Mitchell, who leads the league in 3-pointers made, together with different sharpshooters, together with Tyrese Maxey and Devin Booker.

Lastly, on Sunday, three star-stacked groups will take the stage in a brand new format that rosters American gamers in opposition to worldwide gamers. Can Victor Wembanyama lead Workforce World in opposition to Kevin Durant and Workforce Stripes? Or will Anthony Edwards spoil the enjoyable main Workforce Stars?

Our NBA insiders gave a sneak preview of what to look at heading into the 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend, together with who they decide to win every occasion.

Skilled picks had been voted on by a panel of NBA insiders.

Rising Stars | Saturday abilities | USA vs. World match

Knueppel and Queen usher within the subsequent wave of Rising Stars

Friday, 9 p.m. ET (Peacock)

There might be a Cooper Flagg-shaped void on this occasion, with a foot sprain sidelining 2025’s No. 1 decide in the course of the weekend. The sport ought to nonetheless be a enjoyable highlight for the sturdy 2025 draft class, with Kon Knueppel, Dylan Harper and VJ Edgecombe all on totally different groups. Stephon Fort, reigning Rookie of the Yr, and Alex Sarr are among the many prime second-year gamers concerned. Initially, I’d have picked Flagg’s group to win the mini-tournament, however with him sidelined, I suppose I will take Workforce Vince, which incorporates Edgecombe, Derik Queen and Matas Buzelis. Whether or not I am proper or incorrect, I am keen to wager historical past will not keep in mind on this case. — Jeremy Woo

Sport 1: Workforce Melo vs. Workforce Austin
Sport 2: Workforce Vince vs. Workforce T-Mac
Sport 3: Winner Sport 1 vs. Winner Sport 2

Skilled picks: Workforce Melo

Superstar takeover!

Friday, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN)

The movie star recreation returns with acquainted faces on the courtroom, however what stands out this yr is the truth that two present NBA governors will take part — the Phoenix Suns’ Mat Ishbia and the Charlotte Hornets’ Rick Schnall, who’ve a mixed age of 103.

Nevertheless, historical past says in terms of the movie star recreation, age is only a quantity. Former U.S. Secretary of Protection Arne Duncan routinely confirmed up whereas enjoying in his late 40s/early 50s (he received MVP in 2014 at 49).

NFL star vast receivers Keenan Allen and Amon-Ra St. Brown will take the courtroom, too, in addition to ESPN’s personal NBA insider Shams Charania. Fortunately, the commerce deadline is behind us, that means Charania can play phone-free. — Anthony Gharib

Legendary team-ups, high-flying dunks and Dame Time for All-Star Saturday

Saturday, 8 p.m. ET (NBC, Peacock)

Can Spida spoil Dame Time?

Any of the eight 3-point contestants might get scorching for a minute and produce the successful rating. However primarily based on every participant’s 3-point proportion on wide-open 3s this yr, in line with NBA Superior Stats, the favorites must be Donovan Mitchell (50% on wide-open 3s), Norman Powell (49%) and Jamal Murray (48%). Bobby Portis, Kon Knueppel and Tyrese Maxey are within the decrease 40s, whereas Devin Booker is all the best way down at 31%.

The eighth contestant is the wild card: Damian Lillard hasn’t performed an NBA recreation since tearing an Achilles within the 2025 postseason. However Lillard received this occasion in 2023 and 2024, and he might turn out to be the primary three-time winner within the twenty first century. (Larry Fowl and Craig Hodges every received 3 times within the Nineteen Eighties and Nineteen Nineties, respectively.) — Zach Kram

Skilled picks: Damian Lillard

New faces and a household affair for the dunk contest

This is not probably the most star-studded area within the dunk contest’s historical past, and three of the 4 contestants have scarcely dunked in NBA video games. Jaxson Hayes is a seven-year veteran along with his justifiable share of slams from the middle place, however second-year ahead Keshad Johnson and rookies Carter Bryant and Jase Richardson have recorded single-digit dunk tallies this season.

Not less than there’s star lineage on this area. Richardson’s father is Jason Richardson, who received back-to-back dunk contest crowns in 2002 and 2003 — a number of years earlier than Jase was born. — Kram

Skilled picks: Keshad Johnson

While you want upon a taking pictures star(s)

Rather than the talents problem, the NBA is bringing again the taking pictures stars competitors, which beforehand ran from 2004 via 2015 and featured three-person groups: a present NBA participant, an NBA legend and a WNBA participant.

There isn’t any WNBA presence within the renewed competitors, with a second present participant becoming a member of the three-man groups as an alternative. Two features of this yr’s groups stand out: Workforce Harper — with Ron Harper because the NBA legend and Dylan and Ron Jr. as the present NBA gamers — gives a compelling household ingredient, whereas first-time All-Star Jalen Johnson’s presence on Workforce Cameron is ironic, on condition that Johnson controversially left Duke College in the course of his freshman season to give attention to his preparation for the draft. — Kram

Skilled picks: Workforce Knicks

Worldwide vs. homegrown? What to look at within the All-Star recreation

Sunday, 5 p.m. ET (NBC, Peacock)

In its newest try to inject some life into the NBA’s midseason showcase, the league is leaning into NBC’s Olympic protection by deploying a Workforce USA versus The World format. Sadly, although, the three-team round-robin match has already misplaced some vital members, with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Stephen Curry dominated out for the All-Star Sport, with others to doubtlessly observe.

Nonetheless, there’s not less than some hope this format might encourage some attention-grabbing moments this weekend. The World roster options just one guard (Jamal Murray), and he is the one participant under 6-foot-8. This additionally might be the ultimate All-Star look for LeBron James, so maybe he’ll present as much as play, desirous to exit with a bang. Both method, it’s going to function one other referendum on Adam Silver’s ongoing makes an attempt to salvage the occasion into one thing extra aggressive to look at. — Tim Bontemps

Sport 1: Stars vs. World
Sport 2: Stripes vs. Sport 1 winner
Sport 3: Stripes vs. Sport 1 loser
Sport 4: All-Star Championship

Skilled picks: Workforce World



Steven is a passionate sports enthusiast and writer who enjoys sharing insights, stories, and analysis from the world of football and beyond. With a keen eye for detail and a love for the game, he brings readers closer to the action while keeping them informed and entertained.

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