NBA All-Star Weekend Delivers Highs and Lows

Eventful weekend features exciting game but disappointing dunk contest

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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The 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend in Inglewood, California featured a thrilling All-Star Game but a lackluster dunk contest, leaving fans with a mixed reaction to the league's newest All-Star format.

Why it matters

The NBA All-Star Weekend is one of the league's marquee events, drawing massive viewership and attention. How the various events are received can impact the league's reputation and shape future iterations of the weekend.

The details

The All-Star Game itself was a high-scoring affair that came down to the wire, with the winning team prevailing by just a single point. However, the dunk contest was widely panned by fans and analysts as one of the worst in recent memory, with participants struggling to deliver exciting and innovative dunks.

  • The 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend took place from February 14-16 in Inglewood, California.

The takeaway

The NBA will need to carefully evaluate the format and participants for future All-Star Weekends to ensure the event maintains its luster and delivers an entertaining experience for fans.