If there was ever a week to remind us why we love basketball, this was it. The 2026 NBA All‑Star Weekend lit up Los Angeles, and while the slam dunks, 3-pointers, and rising stars stole the spotlight, the regular season quietly churned on, reminding us the playoffs are looming.
All‑Star Weekend Highlights
The Intuit Dome in Inglewood was the place to be this past weekend. From the Rising Stars game to the slam dunk battles and the main All-Star game, the league put on a show.
Rising Stars: Team Vince edged Team USA in a close battle Friday night, showing off the next generation of NBA talent. Victor Wembanyama continued to shine, dominating both ends of the floor and reminding everyone why he’s already a household name despite being a rookie.
Slam Dunk Contest: Heat forward Keshad Johnson took flight and took home the crown, wowing the crowd with creativity, athleticism, and sheer audacity. His Dunk Contest highlight reel is already all over social media.
3‑Point Contest: TrailBlazer Legend; Damian Lillard reminded everyone he’s a sharpshooter first and a superstar second, claiming his third career 3‑Point Contest victory. His precision and rhythm off the catch-and-shoot is still unmatched, even coming off an Achilles injury earlier this season.
All‑Star Game Breakdown: A New Competitive and Fun Format
This year’s NBA All‑Star Game wasn’t just another exhibition, the biggest critiscims of the All-Star Weekend is the lack of competition and care from the players. Therefor, this year the league debuted a new “USA vs. World” round‑robin format. As fans were treated to intense competition, close finishes, and memorable moments across four short but meaningful mini‑games.
NEW FORMAT = MORE COMPETITION: Instead of the traditional East vs. West, this year divided the All‑Stars into three teams. Team USA Stars, Team USA Stripes, and Team World, who played a series of short 12‑minute games in a round‑robin. The two teams with the best records then met in the championship game for the All‑Star title.
ROUND‑BY‑ROUND RECAP
Game 1 – Team USA Stars 37, Team World 35 (OT)
The opening matchup was tight all the way, with Team Stars and Team World tied at the end of regulation. Scottie Barnes came up with the clutch 3‑pointer in overtime to seal a thrilling 37‑35 win. Edwards paced Stars with 13 points while Victor Wembanyama dropped 14 for World, showing he came to compete.
Game 2 – Team Stripes 42, Team Stars 40
In the second matchup, veteran‑heavy Team Stripes answered back with a buzzer‑beater from De’Aaron Fox to edge Team Stars 42‑40, thrilling the crowd. Jaylen Brown led the way for the Stripes, continuing the competitive tone of the weekend.
Game 3 – Team Stripes 48, Team World 45
The final round‑robin game featured a vintage performance from Kawhi Leonard, who erupted for 31 points in just 12 minutes. Kawhi played incredible in this match, including six 3s. All in effort to lead the Stripes to a 48‑45 win over Team World. Wembanyama also starred with 19 points and multiple highlight blocks, giving fans plenty to cheer about.
Championship – Team Stars 47, Team Stripes 21
The final matchup was billed as a clash between the new generation and the established vets — and the youth came out on top. Team Stars jumped out early and never looked back, racing to a 47‑21 victory. Tyrese Maxey scored nine points, and a balanced attack from Chet Holmgren and Edwards helped the younger squad dominate.
Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards was named MVP of the 2026 All‑Star Game. He was one of the most consistent performers across the mini‑tournament, including a 13‑point effort in the opening overtime win and 8 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists in the championship game.
Edwards’ MVP performance also has historical weight — at just 23, he becomes one of the few players to combine All‑Star MVP honors with significant career achievements like Olympic gold and elite scoring milestones before age 24.
Standout Moments from the All‑Star Game
- Scottie Barnes’ OT heroics to open the tournament brought back the excitement of clutch playoff basketball.
- Fox’s buzzer‑beater in the second game kept Stripes alive in the competition.
- Leonard’s 31‑point quarter reminded fans that even in All‑Star games stars still shine brightest.
Team Stars’ dominant final showed the emerging future of the NBA is loaded with talent and confidence.
Key Storylines From the Week
- Anthony Edwards rises: If there was any doubt about his star power, the All-Star weekend erased it. Edwards ran Team Stars’ offense like a maestro, scoring, passing, and making highlight plays on both ends.
- Damian Lillard’s comeback moment: Winning the 3-point contest post-injury was as much about confidence as skill, and he reminded the league he’s still one of the most dangerous shooters around.
- Rising stars make waves: From Wembanyama to other rookies and sophomores, the weekend underscored the league’s exciting future. These players are poised to redefine the NBA over the next decade.
Nuggets Watch
Denver had its own reason to celebrate: Nikola Jokić secured his 8th straight All-Star selection, and Jamal Murray made his first appearance. Murray even competed in the 3-point contest after shooting over 42% from beyond the arc this season. The Nuggets’ representation highlighted why this team remains a legitimate contender.
Next Week Ahead
With the All-Star festivities over, the regular season resumes full throttle:
- Playoff race heats up
- Teams react to trade-deadline moves
- Injuries and player rotations will define the next stretch
For fans, it’s back to the grind with momentum, storylines, and rivalries renewed after a weekend of pure spectacle.
All-Star Weekend 2026 reminded us why we tune in year after year. Stars shined, legends were celebrated, and the young talent showed they’re ready to take the torch. But now the NBA season resumes in earnest. If you blink, a playoff position or an MVP race twist could be history.
Basketball doesn’t stop, and neither do we.