NBA All-Star Weekend Delivers Highs and Lows

Entertaining game but disappointing dunk contest highlight annual showcase

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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The NBA's 2026 All-Star Weekend featured an eventful mix of highlights and lowlights. The new All-Star Game format, pitting the U.S. against the world in a round-robin tournament, produced an entertaining exhibition with a higher level of competition than usual. However, the dunk contest was widely criticized for lacking excitement and star power. Damian Lillard won his third 3-Point Contest in impressive fashion.

Why it matters

The NBA All-Star Weekend is one of the league's marquee events, drawing significant attention and interest from fans. The success or failure of key components like the All-Star Game and dunk contest can impact the overall perception and reception of the league's midseason showcase.

The details

The new All-Star Game format, which featured a round-robin tournament between teams representing the U.S. and the rest of the world, was praised for compelling the stars to play at a higher level of competition than is typical for an exhibition game. However, the dunk contest was widely panned, with a lack of star power and excitement disappointing many viewers. Damian Lillard won the 3-Point Contest for the third time, further cementing his sharpshooting prowess.

  • The 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend took place in Inglewood, California.

The players

Damian Lillard

An NBA star who won the 3-Point Contest for the third time.

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The takeaway

The 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend showcased the league's ability to innovate and create an entertaining All-Star Game, but also highlighted the ongoing challenge of maintaining excitement and star power in the dunk contest, a marquee event that failed to meet expectations this year.