2026 NBA All-Star Weekend: Lillard Returns for 75th Game at Intuit Dome

The 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend features Damian Lillard's return from an Achilles injury and a new USA vs. World three-team tournament format.

The 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend marks the 75th All-Star Game in league history, scheduled to take place at the Intuit Dome, the home of the LA Clippers. This midseason showcase begins Friday, February 13, at 7 p.m. ET with the Ruffles Celebrity Game and the Rising Stars showcase. A major storyline involves Damian Lillard, who enters the 3-point contest despite having not played an NBA game since tearing his Achilles in the 2025 postseason. Lillard, a two-time champion of the event in 2023 and 2024, aims to become the first three-time winner in the 21st century, a feat previously achieved only by Larry Bird in the 1980s and Craig Hodges in the 1990s.

Three-Point Contest and Shooting Stars Field

Donovan Mitchell enters the 3-point shoot-off as a statistical favorite, leading the NBA in 3-pointers made and shooting 50% on wide-open attempts this season. The eight-player field also includes Norman Powell, who shoots 49% on wide-open looks, and Jamal Murray at 48%. Other participants include Tyrese Maxey and Bobby Portis, both shooting in the lower 40s on open shots, and Devin Booker, who currently holds a 31% mark in that category. The 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend will also see the return of the shooting stars competition, replacing the skills challenge. This event features three-man teams, such as Team Harper, which consists of NBA legend Ron Harper alongside current players Dylan Harper and Ron Jr.

Team Cameron will feature first-time All-Star Jalen Johnson, while the expert panel has selected Team Knicks as the favorite to win the shooting stars event. Unlike the original format used from 2004 through 2015, the 2026 version excludes WNBA players, opting instead for a second current NBA player on each roster. The competition remains a test of accuracy from multiple locations on the floor, reintroducing a format that had been dormant for over a decade.

Rising Stars and Injury Updates

The Rising Stars showcase on Friday night will be missing its projected headliner, as 2025 No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg is sidelined with a foot sprain. Additionally, former No. 2 pick Alex Sarr is ruled out for two weeks due to a right hamstring strain. In their absence, Rookie of the Year contender Kon Knueppel leads a young troupe that includes Dylan Harper and VJ Edgecombe. Stephon Castle, the reigning Rookie of the Year, is also slated to participate among the top second-year players.

The tournament structure for Friday features Team Melo facing Team Austin in Game 1, followed by Team Vince versus Team T-Mac in Game 2. The winners of these matchups will meet in Game 3 for the title. Team Vince features a roster of Edgecombe, Derik Queen, and Matas Buzelis. Despite the absence of Flagg, the event serves as a primary spotlight for the 2025 draft class, with insiders picking Team Melo to emerge victorious in the mini-tournament.

Slam Dunk Contest and Celebrity Game Rosters

Saturday's slam dunk contest features a mix of veteran experience and rookie potential. Jaxson Hayes, a seven-year veteran center, is the most experienced dunker in the field. He is joined by Keshad Johnson, Carter Bryant, and Jase Richardson. Notably, Bryant, Richardson, and Johnson have all recorded single-digit dunk totals during the current NBA season. Jase Richardson follows the lineage of his father, Jason Richardson, who secured back-to-back dunk titles in 2002 and 2003. Expert predictions favor Keshad Johnson to take the 2026 crown.

The Celebrity Game on Friday features NBA governors Mat Ishbia of the Phoenix Suns and Rick Schnall of the Charlotte Hornets, who have a combined age of 103. They will be joined on the court by NFL wide receivers Keenan Allen and Amon-Ra St. Brown, as well as NBA insider Shams Charania. History in this event includes high-level performances from older participants, such as former U.S. Secretary of Defense Arne Duncan, who won the MVP award in 2014 at the age of 49.

New All-Star Game Format: USA vs. World

Sunday’s main event introduces a three-team round-robin tournament format titled Team USA versus The World. The rosters are divided into Team Stars, Team Stripes, and Team World. Victor Wembanyama is expected to lead Team World, a roster that notably features only one guard, Jamal Murray, who is also the only player on that squad under 6-foot-8. They will face Team Stripes, headlined by Kevin Durant, and Team Stars, led by Anthony Edwards.

This new format arrives as several perennial All-Stars have been ruled out due to injury, including Giannis Antetokounmpo, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Stephen Curry. The tournament progression begins with Stars vs. World in Game 1, followed by Stripes facing the Game 1 winner in Game 2. Game 3 features Stripes against the Game 1 loser, leading into the All-Star Championship in Game 4. Insiders have tapped Team World as the favorite to win the inaugural tournament under this Olympic-style structure.