NBA All-Star Game 2026: Everything You Need to Know
The NBA All-Star Game is back, and this year it's in San Francisco. If you're wondering who made the rosters, what the format is, and whether this year's game will actually be competitive, here's everything you need to know.
The rosters: who made it
The starters were voted in by fans, players, and media. No surprises at the top β LeBron and Giannis are captains again. But there are some interesting picks this year.
Team LeBron starters: LeBron James (Lakers), Luka DonΔiΔ (Mavericks), Stephen Curry (Warriors), Kevin Durant (Suns), Joel Embiid (76ers)
Team Giannis starters: Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks), Jayson Tatum (Celtics), Damian Lillard (Bucks), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder), Nikola JokiΔ (Nuggets)
The reserves were selected by coaches, and this is where it gets interesting. Tyrese Haliburton made it for the third straight year. Anthony Edwards is in. Ja Morant is back after missing last year. And Paolo Banchero got his first All-Star nod, which feels overdue.
The biggest snub? Probably Trae Young. He's having a great season, but the East backcourt is stacked, and voters went with defense-first guards this time.
Format changes: will it actually matter?
The NBA keeps tweaking the All-Star format because, let's be honest, the games have been unwatchable for years. Nobody plays defense, the final score is always 180-170, and it feels more like a scrimmage than a showcase.
This year, they're trying something new: a target score in the fourth quarter. The first three quarters are played normally, but in the fourth, the clock turns off and teams play to a target score (the leading team's score plus 24 points, in honor of Kobe). The first team to hit that target wins.
Will it work? Maybe. The Elam Ending (that's what it's called) has made the final minutes more competitive in past years. But the real issue is that players don't want to risk injury in a meaningless game, and no format change is going to fix that.
The weekend events: what's worth watching
The All-Star Game is just one part of All-Star Weekend. Here's what else is happening:
Friday: Rising Stars Game β This is where you'll see the rookies and second-year players. Victor Wembanyama is the headliner, obviously. Chet Holmgren, Brandon Miller, and Scoot Henderson are all playing. This game is usually more fun than the actual All-Star Game because the young guys are still trying to prove themselves.
Saturday: Skills Challenge, Three-Point Contest, Dunk Contest β The Skills Challenge is skippable. The Three-Point Contest is always solid β Damian Lillard and Stephen Curry are both competing, which should be fun. The Dunk Contest has been terrible for years, but they're bringing back some creativity this year with props and guest judges. We'll see.
Why San Francisco?
The game is at Chase Center, home of the Warriors. San Francisco hasn't hosted an All-Star Game since 2000 (when it was at the old Oakland Arena), so this is a big deal for the Bay Area. The city is going all-in with events around the waterfront, and the weather in February is way better than most NBA cities.
Plus, having the game in Golden State means Stephen Curry gets to play at home, which is always a draw. Curry is one of the few All-Stars who actually tries in these games, so that's a bonus.
The betting angle (if you care)
All-Star Game betting is tricky because the effort level is so unpredictable. But if you're looking at props, here's what makes sense:
- Over on total points: These games always go over. The defense is nonexistent, and the pace is insane. The total is usually set around 340, and it hits the over 70% of the time.
- Stephen Curry three-pointers: Curry loves shooting in All-Star Games. He's hit 8+ threes in three of the last five games. If the line is set at 6.5, take the over.
- MVP: LeBron has won it four times, but he's 41 now and probably won't go hard. Giannis is a good bet if you want a favorite. If you want a longshot, take Anthony Edwards β he's young, he's explosive, and he plays with energy even in exhibition games.
Should you actually watch?
Here's the honest answer: probably not the whole thing. The first three quarters are going to be a layup line. But tune in for the fourth quarter when the Elam Ending kicks in. That's when it gets competitive, and that's when you'll see actual basketball instead of an alley-oop contest.
If you're a casual fan, the Rising Stars Game on Friday and the Three-Point Contest on Saturday are more entertaining. If you're a die-hard, you'll watch it all anyway because it's the NBA and you can't help yourself.
Either way, it's All-Star Weekend. Enjoy it for what it is: a celebration of the league's best players, even if the actual basketball is secondary.