NBA All-Star Weekend Delivers Highs and Lows

Eventful weekend features thrilling All-Star Game but disappointing Dunk Contest

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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The 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend in Inglewood, California, was a mix of highs and lows. The new All-Star Game format featuring a U.S. vs. World tournament was a hit, with players competing hard and producing an entertaining event. However, the Slam Dunk Contest disappointed, with several failed attempts and an underwhelming finish. Other highlights included Kawhi Leonard's scoring barrage and Damian Lillard's 3-Point Contest victory, while the early afternoon start times dampened the big-event atmosphere.

Why it matters

The NBA has struggled to make its All-Star Weekend relevant in recent years, with the exhibition games often lacking intensity and the Dunk Contest losing its luster. This year's event showed promise in reviving interest, but also highlighted the ongoing challenges the league faces in keeping its marquee midseason showcase compelling for fans.

The details

The new All-Star Game format pitted a team of U.S. players against a World team in a round-robin tournament of 12-minute mini-games. This setup compelled the stars to play with more intensity than usual, leading to an entertaining event. However, the finale between the two U.S. teams was anticlimactic. The Slam Dunk Contest, meanwhile, was underwhelming, with several failed attempts and an uninspired finish. Miami's Keshad Johnson won the event after San Antonio's Carter Bryant couldn't complete his second dunk. Elsewhere, Kawhi Leonard scored 31 points in 12 minutes to lead his team to victory in one of the mini-games, while Damian Lillard won the 3-Point Contest for the third time.

  • The 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend took place on February 15-16, 2026 in Inglewood, California.
  • The All-Star Game and other events began at 2 p.m. Pacific time due to NBC's coverage of the Winter Olympics in primetime.

The players

Devin Booker

A Phoenix Suns player who was a member of the victorious Stars team in the All-Star Game.

Karl-Anthony Towns

A player who expressed appreciation for the increased competitiveness of the new All-Star Game format.

Tyrese Maxey

A player who scored 9 points in the final mini-game between the two U.S. teams.

Keshad Johnson

The winner of the disappointing Slam Dunk Contest.

Damian Lillard

The Portland Trail Blazers guard who won the 3-Point Contest for the third time, joining an elite group.

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What they’re saying

“I think every team honestly wanted to win.”

— Devin Booker (wklh.com)

“I've been asking for it, fans have been asking for it, media have been asking for it, (and) I feel that after today, I think you all can see the competition is there. I think that we all brought it today, brought a sense of effort. I hope that the fans and all of you appreciate it.”

— Karl-Anthony Towns (wklh.com)

“We're definitely one-up on the uncs right now.”

— Tyrese Maxey (wklh.com)

“That's probably one of the most special quarters of basketball we've witnessed.”

— Devin Booker (wklh.com)

“That's what the home crowd wanted to see. I'm glad I was able to do something in that game.”

— Kawhi Leonard (wklh.com)

What’s next

The NBA has not yet announced the format for the 2027 All-Star Game in Phoenix, and the future of the World team component remains uncertain depending on which international players are having All-Star-worthy seasons.

The takeaway

The 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend showcased the league's ongoing efforts to revitalize its marquee midseason showcase, with the new All-Star Game format proving successful in generating more competitive play from the players. However, the disappointing Slam Dunk Contest highlighted the continued challenges the NBA faces in keeping the entire All-Star Weekend program engaging for fans.