What We Learned From the 2026 NBA All-Star Game
Another All-Star Game is in the books, though not without leaving a unique taste for fans to enjoy. The 2026 festivities featured a three-team round-robin format, where the two best records advanced to the final game. Many stars represented their country with a slight caveat, as the teams were split between Team World and two Team USAs. A younger group formed “Team Stars,” while “Team Stripes” was led by veterans like LeBron James and Kevin Durant. This new version of the age-old tradition once again served as a way to celebrate the NBA’s best players, and everyone appeared to enjoy themselves on the court. Let’s discuss what stood out during the 2026 All-Star Game.
An Entertaining Start Set the Event up for Success
Though the fourth and final game ended in a blowout, the first two games featured nail-biting finishes. The opening matchup between Team World and Team Stars went to overtime after Miami’s Norman Powell missed a buzzer-beater with the score tied. With the winner needing just five points in the overtime period, both teams tightened up defensively. Team World needed only to avoid giving up a three-pointer after taking a three-to-two lead, but Toronto’s Scottie Barnes had other ideas. Punishing a collapsing defense from beyond the arc, he ended the game and secured the win for Team Stars. The ensuing game between Team Stars and Team Stripes arguably delivered even more excitement. After the Stripes led for most of the contest, a late surge by the Stars culminated when Anthony Edwards hit a running pull-up three to put his team ahead by one. Following excellent ball movement on the final possession, San Antonio’s De’Aaron Fox sidestepped a closing defender and sank the game-winning three-pointer for the Stripes as time expired.
Players Are Putting in Effort Again?
As several players noted during in-game interviews, Team World’s Victor Wembanyama set the tone early. As he galloped down the court, his effort level was noticeably higher than that of many of the others. That intensity inspired teammates and opponents alike to elevate their play. In his MVP speech, Edwards was asked what motivated his performance, and he credited the infectious energy Wembanyama brought to the floor. As a competitor, Edwards felt compelled to raise his level, and it appeared others followed his lead.
Not Much “Show,” Not Much Flashiness
In previous All-Star Games, dunks reached a different level compared to standard NBA matchups. Watching East versus West used to feel like an all-inclusive buffet, offering a little bit of everything: Eastbays, 360s, windmills. Today’s NBA, however, is heavily centered on long-range shooting, and that emphasis has carried into the All-Star Game. Even when players had clear lanes and space to excite the crowd, they opted for simple finishes. During several transition opportunities with no defenders in sight, only one player attacked the rim. There were no fancy passes, no dunk-contest-style slams, and no unexpected moves. That element of spectacle may need to return if the event hopes to recapture the flair it once had.
