BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 25: Shams Charania looks on during the 2025 NBA Draft - Round One on June 25, 2025 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE(Photo by Evan Yu/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The NBA Celebrity Game has become a staple of All-Star Weekend to kick off the festivities on Friday night. This year’s 22-person roster includes an NBA owner, one famous reporter, several NFL stars, and then a bunch of people I need to Google as a childless 38-year-old man who is mostly out of touch with popular culture.
The 2026 NBA Celebrity Game features an obvious hook: Shams Charania will be playing for a team coached by Giannis Antetokounmpo and his brothers Alex and Thanasis Antetokounmpo. Charania has been pushing Giannis trade rumors hard since the summer, and especially so at the trade deadline, but Antetokounmpo remains with the Bucks. Will Giannis give Shams a hard time for his reporting? Tune in to find out.
The NBA Celebrity Game will go down on Friday, Feb. 13 at 7 p.m. ET from the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. Here’s a look at the full roster, with introductions to every celebrity below.
Team Antetokounmpo
Giannis, Alex, and Thanasis Antetokounmpo will coach this team along with Dodgers star Mookie Betts.
Keegan-Michael Key: Hey, I know this guy! A 54-year-old actor and comedian, he’s probably best known for Key & Peele. This gives me another excuse to link one of the best sports skits ever.
Rome Flynn: The 34-year-old actor is best known for his work in How To Get Away With Murder and The Bold and the Beautiful.
Dylan Wang: A 27-year-old Chinese actor and singer best known for his role in Meteor Garden. He has 6.2 million Instagram followers, and his Wikipedia page says he’s a huge fan of LeBron James!
Shams Charania: If you follow the NBA, you know Shams. He has replaced Woj as the guy who gets all the scoops. Charania is 31 years old, and a native of suburban Chicago.
Jenna Bandy: Bandy is a popular sports content creator. Look at this throw!
Rick Schnall: Schnall is the 57-year-old minority owner of the Atlanta Hawks
Tacko Fall: Wow, Tacko Fall! I used to write about him often. Fall is a 7’6 big man who went undrafted in 2019 but played for the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers before going on to have a career playing in China.
Jeremy Lin: Linsanity is back! Jeremy Lin is a former NBA player who rose to stardom with the Knicks. He’s 37 years old, and most recently played in Taiwan.
GloRilla: A 26-year-old rap star from Memphis. You may have heard “TGIF.”
Cafu: A former Brazilian soccer star, and one of the greatest fullbacks of all-time. He’s 55 years old.
Amon-Ra St. Brown: Detroit Lions superstar wide receiver.
Team Anderson
Actor Anthony Anderson, social media influencer Lethal Shooter, and NBA trainer Chris Brickley will coach this team.
Simu Liu: A 36-year-old Canadian actor and stuntman. He’s best known for the Marvel movie Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
Jan 20, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, left, and Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong are seen during the first half of the game between the Chicago Bulls and the LA Clippers at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images | Matt Marton-Imagn Images
State Farm is hosting a celebrity 3-point contest on Friday night during NBA All-Star weekend. The contest will take place at the NBA Crossover in Los Angeles.
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams is set to take part in the contest, joined by internet personality Druski and streamer PlaqueBoy Max. The event will feature a mix of professional athletes—such as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jared McCain—alongside various online personalities and entertainers, with Williams headlining the group.
I think it should be noted to make things clear, this is a State Farm event and not NBA. Lol https://t.co/0o1fFAjXEP
Welcome to Inside the Suns, your weekly deep down analysis of the current Phoenix Suns team. Each week the Fantable — a round table of Bright Siders — give their takes on the Suns’ latest issues and news.
This week, I hope everyone will join me in welcoming Diamondhacks as the newest member of the Fantable!
Fantable Questions of the Week
Q1: With two-thirds of the season behind us, the Suns are a borderline playoff/Play-In team. Which side of that line do you think they will ultimately fall on at the end of the regular season?
Diamondhacks: It could easily go either way, with the Wolves, us, and the Lakes all facing tougher-than-average remaining strength of schedule. But since Rod threatened to revoke my BSOTS cafeteria privileges if I didn’t answer the question, I’ll guess Play-In. Some of our key guys may be wearing down, and we’re not surprising opponents much anymore. Coaches like Lue, Kerr, and Nurse are more aggressively targeting emergent difference makers (ie, Collin, Oso, and Goody). Everybody, even Anthony Edwards, knows who “they” are now.
Jalen Green is still the wild card, but unless he can reliably turbocharge this offense, my worry is that most of our structural and surprise upside this season has already been realized. If Ott can get Jalen to do that, reasonably efficiently, on top of everything else the Suns have accomplished, then I think we have the Coach of the Year.
Ashton: It really does depend on injury reports. Yeah, hot take.
Tankathon ranks the Suns’ remaining strength of schedule as the fifth-hardest in the nation. The good news is that Denver, Thunder, and Wolves rank above them. Dallas and Clippers are in the tank, right? And LeBron is fighting arthritis in his left foot.
Six seed seems to be correct to me.
Rod: I think they have a really good chance of ending the regular season as the 6th or maybe the 5th seed and avoiding the play-in games…IF they stay relatively healthy between now and then. And by that I mean no serious injuries that keep key players out for more than a game or two at a time. If everything falls just right, I could even see them finishing the RS as 4th seed, but that’s a ‘best case scenario’ that I consider unlikely.
At worst, I really can’t see them falling below the 8th seed in the play-ins unless something bizarre happens to completely derail the rest of the regular season. I really doubt that happening, but I also can’t just write off that possibility.
I’m not much of a betting man, but I’d go with the over on the playoff/play-in line for the Suns right now. I think the AS break will be good for them, and they return rested and re-energized to make a strong run to the regular season finish line.
Q2: Jamaree Bouyea’s stats have taken a big hit lately. In November, his averages were 5.8 ppg (per 36 = 19.3) while shooting 55% from the field and 54.5% from three in 10.8 minutes per game. In February, his stats dropped to 4.5 ppg (per 36 = 9.9) with shooting percentages of 40% from the field and 9.1% from three in 16.4 minutes per game.
Why do you think his performance has dropped off lately?
Diamondhacks: JB’s month-by-month decline could be for tangible competitive reasons, like teams are defending him better. A more abstract (and hopeful) take is that his seasonal rate stats still align very closely with (admittedly limited) career numbers. So maybe the fast start and subsequent decline are more of a passive or random statistical variation; thus, he’ll bounce back from the latter a little. It’s hard to say, because his sample sizes are still so small. We don’t really know what his established level is yet, but it seems increasingly unlikely to me that he’ll reprise his captivating November.
Ashton: He didn’t even play in the game against the Mavs. So, let’s go with the obvious clue here: playing time. And in order to get that playing time, he needs to pack his bags for Tempe and let Amir Coffey cook a little with the NBA minutes.
Bouyea stats in G League are actually pretty good. I can’t link G League stats in my write-ups, but the guy is averaging 20.2 points per game over five games played! So, do I think his performance has dropped off? It depends on the context.
Rod: Probably the biggest reason is simply that he’s no longer a surprise to other teams, and they have added him to their list of players to game plan for. The Suns have also played some tough teams since he returned after missing 10 games with a concussion. The ‘rust’ from his downtime while recovering combined with the tougher competition was likely a double whammy that hurt his stats. Hopefully, he’ll be back closer to his normal self following the AS break.
Q3: What are your thoughts on Amir Coffey and his possible role with the Suns?
Diamondhacks: He’s Royce’s backup and Ryan Dunn’s three-point insurance. Like O’Neale, Coffey pours in 40+% on corner threes. Coffey’s gritty and earned 1700 minutes under Ty Lue. The caveat is that this year’s stint with the Bucks has been more of a grind.
Ashton: This may be the shortest Fantable write-up I have done yet, based on word counts. We do not all know, and this question is way too early to ask. I waited for the Mavs game to try to answer this question, and I still have nothing. He was +1 in that game, and maybe he does something more against the Thunder (yikes!) tonight, but that is not a good introduction for him jelling with the team.
What can I say? He was solid with the Clippers, but the Bucks treated him like a red-headed stepchild (with respect to red-headed stepchildren), and I find that a little bit worrisome. Of course, it is the Bucks, and I have not watched one of their games since 2021.
Rod: I have a feeling that Coffey may have just been a bad fit in Milwaukee and will do better in the Valley. In most of his seasons with LAC, he was a three-point shooter, nailing 38.4% there, and close to 50% of his FGAs were from three. With the Bucks, his playing time was way below his career average, as was his FGAs. I wish I’d seen more of Milwaukee this season so I’d have a better idea of why he was pretty much buried at the end of their bench, but I think he may get more of a chance to play here, especially if his three-point shooting returns to form.
With the Suns so reliant on the three, he could carve himself out some rotation minutes, especially if GA remains sidelined for a while. But more than that, he’s going to have to fit in defensively to stay on the court. I don’t think he’s going to completely move anyone else out of Ott’s player rotation but he should be at least a solid insurance player at both SG and SF. He looked pretty good in limited minutes against Dallas and OKC without much practice time with the team so I’m currently happy with him.
As always, many thanks to our Fantable members for all their extra effort this week!
Quotes of the Week
“I think this (All-Star break) is a time where we can evaluate exactly who we are, how we’ve been. I think even in this last stretch without Book (Devin Booker), I just don’t think we’ve been as good defensively, honestly. That’s where we got to get back to.” – Jordan Ott
“Our focus has to be really high. Especially in this West, a differential of two to three games where you can get in that playoff hunt and you can be a four or five, even three (seed). You have to be real focused in the gym when we come back, and move these last 25 games with some purpose.” – Dillon Brooks
“I think it (the OKC loss) is motivation to be better the next 25 games. The last game we had no Book (Devin Booker), no Jalen (Green), no Grayson (Allen). We get healthy and put it together and we will go at these 25 games like we are trying to prove something like we did in the beginning of the year.” – Dillon Brooks
“I got a lot of stuff to learn, a lot of stuff to go over but at the end of the day, you still got to do your job. So, that stuff will come. But still got to go out and compete.” – Amir Coffey
Suns Trivia/History
On February 16, 2009, the Suns fired head coach Terry Porter after 51 games and replaced him with assistant Alvin Gentry. The Suns had a 28–23 record, ninth in the Western Conference, with Porter. Under Gentry the Suns would go 18-13 to finish the season with a 46-36 record and miss the payoffs for the first time after four straight appearances and two trips to the Western Conference Finals under former head coach Mike D’Antoni.
On February 18, 1990, Tom Chambers had the first 50+ point game in Phoenix Suns history, scoring 56 points in a 131-113 win at Golden State. The previous record of 49 points belonged to then assistant coach Paul Westphal scored 10 years earlier on Feb. 21, 1980 in a 125-116 victory against the Detroit Pistons. Head coach Cotton Fitzsimmons left Chambers in the game until there was only 3 minutes left hoping he would reach 60 points.
On February 19, 2015, after Goran Dragic publicly announced that he no longer trusted the Suns front office and wanted to be traded, the Suns made a flurry of in-season moves at the trade deadline including:
A 3-team trade in which Phoenix traded Goran Dragić and Zoran Dragić to the Miami Heat for Danny Granger, a 2017 1st round draft pick and a 2021 1st round draft pick plus John Salmons from New Orleans.
A second 3-team trade in which the Suns traded a 2018 1st round draft pick to the Philadelphia 76ers and Tyler Ennis and Miles Plumlee to the Milwaukee Bucks for Brandon Knight and Kendall Marshall.
And a third 3-team trade in which the Suns traded Isaiah Thomas to the Boston Celtics in exchange for Marcus Thornton and a 2016 1st round draft pick. The third partner in the trade, the Detroit Pistons, acted as a facilitator in the trade and had no direct dealings with the Suns.
The trades did not work out for the Suns who were 29-25 before they happened and went 10-18 the rest of the season to finish 39-43, missing the playoffs for the fifth straight season in what would continue to grow into a 10 year playoff drought.
This Week’s Game Schedule
Thursday, Feb 19 – Suns @ San Antonio Spurs (6:30 pm)
This Week’s Valley Suns Game Schedule
None.
Important Future Dates
March 1 – Playoff eligibility waiver deadline March 4 – Final day to sign players to two-way contracts March 28 – NBA G League Regular Season ends March 31 – 2026 NBA G League Playoffs begin April 12 – Regular season ends (All 30 teams play) April 13 – Rosters set for NBA Playoffs 2026 (3 p.m. ET) April 14-17 – SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament April 18 – NBA Playoffs begin
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 17: Donovan Mitchell shoots the ball during the Starry 3 point contest as a part of State Farm All-Star Saturday Night on Saturday, February 17, 2024 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers will have two representatives at All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles with Donovan Mitchell and Jaylon Tyson. Mitchell will be participating in the 3-Point Contest and All-Star Game, while Tyson will be in the Rising Stars game.
The format of these events changes seemingly every season. Let’s get into what we can expect this go around.
Rising Stars
When: Friday, Feb. 13 at 9 PM
TV: Peacock
The Rising Stars game will feature first and second-year NBA players and a handful of G League participants. The 21 NBA players have been broken up into three teams. The G League players are on a team of their own.
The four teams will participate in a mini-tournament of three overall games. There will be two semi-final games. The first team to 40 points in the semi-final games will advance, and the loser will be eliminated. The two winning teams will face off in the finals. The final game will be won by the first team to reach 25 points.
Tyson is on a team drafted by Tracy McGrady. His team is as follows:
Tre Johnson
Kon Knueppel
Ajay Johnson
Alex Sarr
Cam Spencer
Jaylon Tyson
Kel’el Ware
3-Point Contest
When: Saturday, Feb. 14 at 5 PM
TV: NBC and Peacock
The 3-Point Contest will be the first event of All-Star Saturday. This is a change from their normal order of activities. Considering this is the best event of All-Star Weekend, and it features Mitchell, it’s worth watching.
This will be the second time Mitchell has been in the 3-Point Contest as a Cavalier and the third time overall. In his most recent showing, he wore a number 5 Cavs’ jersey with “Money Merrill” on the back in honor of Sam Merrill. He said on Wednesday that he plans on doing that again this time around.
Here are the participants for the 3-Point Contest:
Devin Booker
Kon Knueppel
Damian Lillard
Tyrese Maxey
Donovan Mitchell
Jamal Murray
Bobby Portis Jr.
Norman Powell
NBA G League Next Up Game
When: Sunday, Feb. 15 at 2:30 PM
TV: NBA TV
The Charge will have two representatives at this year’s version of what is the G League All-Star Game with Killian Hayes and Norchad Omier
Hayes has had an incredible season so far. He’s averaging 23.5 points, 8.3 assists, 4 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game on .467/.323/.795 shooting splits in 26 outings with the Charge.
Omier is a candidate to get the two-way spot that Nae’Qwan Tomlin recently vacated by signing a standard deal. Omier is averaging 18.5 points and 11.1 rebounds on .601/.270/.790 shooting splits.
The Next Up Game is consistently a pretty solid event. There’s generally a real competitive level to this game that isn’t there in most of the other All-Star Weekend activities. Like the other events, this will also follow the same mini-tournament format.
NBA All-Star Game
When: Sunday, Feb. 15 at 9 PM
TV: NBC and Peacock
The All-Star game is once again trying a new format. This year, the All-Stars were broken up into three teams. Two teams are made of U.S. players, while the third is the international team.
The three teams will play in a round-robin tournament, with each team playing each other. The mini games will be just 12 minutes long.
The teams with the top two records after the three games will face off in the final game.
Mitchell’s team will consist of the veteran U.S. players, as seen below.
Jaylen Brown
Jalen Brunson
Stephen Curry (not participating due to injury)
Kevin Durant
Brandon Ingram
LeBron James
Kawhi Leonard
Donovan Mitchell
Norman Powell
We’ll see if the new format changes make the game more competitive.
Let us know in the comments what event you’re most excited to see and whether you think the new format will change anything.
There’s a debate to be had about the NBA’s ring culture.
Some spoilsports say it spoils the sport. They’ll argue that the emphasis on championship pursuits causes fans to lose sight of the forest for the trees. A season should be measured in increments. Winning five more games than expected is worth celebration. Beating a rival on the road is a season high.
It all sounds like what you’d say if your team had no chance to win the NBA championship.
What else is this about? What is the existential impetus if not for ultimate glory? The game is about the NBA Championship. Anything else is, to be blunt, loser talk.
Having established that, the Houston Rockets will not win the NBA championship in 2025-26. It’s simply not going to happen. As far as real contenders go, they’re on the outside looking in:
Especially in a bloody Western Conference.
Rockets can’t survive the Western Front
Before we talk about the competition, let’s talk about the Rockets.
They have two All-Stars. That’s good! They’re deep. That’s good too!
Let’s get more granular. The Rockets are deep: with talented but fundamentally flawed players. It’s always something. Amen Thompson can’t shoot (neither can Sengun). Reed Sheppard can’t defend. Jabari Smith Jr. can’t create. Tari Eason can’t stay healthy.
Look at the Oklahoma City Thunder. Seriously, as a psychological exercise, just try to set aside your fandom for a moment and marvel at the structural integrity of the basketball Death Star they’ve built. Almost everyone can shoot. Everyone (and I do mean everyone) can defend.
Their 118.1 Offensive Rating ranks fourth. Their 106.1 Defensive Rating ranks first by a considerable margin. Unsurprisingly, their 12.1 Net Rating serves to tell the world that, barring catastrophic injury luck, this team’s next NBA title is already portended.
Heading into 2025-26, we knew this. Ostensibly, the Rockets were next in line. They were meant to have a puncher’s chance in case something awful did happen to the Thunder.
It’s been said ad nauseam, but the “something awful” actually happened to the Rockets. Some will parrot the sentiment that “if the Rockets were that reliant on Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams, they weren’t going to win an NBA title anyway”. Bad argument. Those are structural pieces. We’ve seen superteams fail to win NBA titles because they didn’t pay attention to the role players you need to assemble a game plan. Every (contending) team has talent. It’s best to have a plan outside of “out-talent the talent”.
The Rockets planned to control the possession battle by minimizing turnovers (VanVleet) and dominating the offensive glass (Adams et al). With VanVleet missing the entire season, their 15.7% Turnover Percentage ranks 27th. They still lead the league in Offensive Rebounding % (39.9%) by a healthy margin, and they probably will throughout the entire year, but that part of their plan is less sound with Adams on the sidelines.
All of which is to say: They aren’t better than the Spurs either. San Antonio’s 6.1 Net Rating paces Houston’s 5.0 mark. Much of that owes to Victor Wembanyama, aka The Bogeyman, aka The Croque-Mitaine. He is nightmare incarnate for everyone who doesn’t live in what I, as a Canadian, understand to be a worse part of Texas than Houston.
(Take that, Tim Duncan!)
How about the Nuggets? That’s where it gets interesting. Their 4.1 Net Rating is worse than Houston’s. The Rockets have a deeper roster. Still, it would be hard to deny that Nikola Jokic is the most effective player between the two squads. Even in the age of parity where teams are trending towards depth, having (by far) the best player in a series is a distinct advantage.
Otherwise, the Rockets are right there. Unfortunately, sitting with two or three teams ahead of you in the conference does not a contender make. Even by Stone’s stunningly frank admission, this is not their year.
How is next year looking?
Rockets need better luck next year
Time will tell.
The Rockets have problems. There is a laundry list of needed improvements:
Sengun needs to be more efficient. He just does. It’d be nice if the defense were consistent, too, but at least he’s permanently upgraded from “permanently bad status.” Next year, we need to be able to point to one (1) spot on the floor and say “that’s where he butters his bread”.
Thompson needs more offensive utility. If the on-ball experiment still looks like an experiment, get him cutting, screening, and rolling more frequently.
Sheppard. I’m not sure what to prescribe. Grow? Is that a fair request? Could he just grow taller? He needs to find a way to survive defensively.
All of these flaws, and yet, the Rockets are fourth in the West without two foundational veterans. With some internal growth and the return of those guys, they could be in the mix for the 2026-27 NBA championship.
Coach Tyronn Lue and All-Star forward Kawhi Leonard remain with the Clippers, who are in another round of rebuilding after recently trading guard James Harden and center Ivica Zubac. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
The Clippers’ days as the biggest losers in professional sports are long gone, and this NBA All-Star weekend was supposed to be a time to celebrate it.
The team that spent its first four decades of existence as a punch line and a purgatory has now had 14 consecutive winning seasons with a succession of basketball greats wearing its uniform. After decades of playing in dingy gyms from Buffalo to San Diego to downtown Los Angeles, the Clippers now hold court in a lavish, futuristic new arena built by the richest owner in professional sports, Steve Ballmer.
Yet perhaps it’s cosmically appropriate for this crowning All-Star moment to arrive in the middle of a profoundly chaotic season for the Clippers, whose newer fans have been getting a taste of the bad old days from a team that once spent almost every year mired in some kind of mess.
“We’ve dealt with a lot this year,” said Clippers guard Kris Dunn, whose team closed the first half of the season Wednesday with a 105-102 victory in Houston. “Our whole mentality throughout the year has just been to try to find a way. It’s been tough.”
The season began under the cloud of an NBA investigation into a suspicious endorsement deal for superstar Kawhi Leonard which might have been a way for the team to circumvent the salary cap — and which infuriated front offices around the sport, no matter what the league eventually decides. Leonard, Ballmer and president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank all deny wrongdoing, but the Clippers could face penalties if the league disagrees.
The Clippers then got off to a shambolic 6-21 start during which they kicked franchise icon Chris Paul off the team just six weeks into the 40-year-old point guard’s much-anticipated farewell season. A couple of weeks after Paul’s banishment, coach Tyronn Lue’s Clippers improbably started winning again, with former league MVP James Harden and veteran center Ivica Zubac stepping up alongside Leonard to lead a 16-3 surge into the playoff race.
But then Frank blew up his roster last week, trading Harden to Cleveland and Zubac to Indiana. The moves probably improved the long-term outlook for a team that began the season with the NBA’s oldest roster, but they might have ended an era. They still have Leonard, who scored 27 points, including a three-point play in the final seconds, in Wednesday’s win.
“As hard as these moves are, we’re extremely excited about where we’re going,” Frank said. “We want to win now.”
The Clippers’ current streak of 14 winning seasons was pretty much unthinkable only 15 years ago, when this franchise had managed only six winning seasons in 40 years. They’ve made the playoffs 12 times and won their first three Pacific Division titles in this stretch.
But the Clippers’ past five months have contained enough drama for a decade around many clubs, and the All-Star weekend will be a welcome opportunity for the team and its fans to catch their breath. This is the first All-Star weekend hosted solely by the Clippers, who shared the honor three times previously with their eternal older brothers, the 17-time champion Lakers.
The Clippers (26-28) once had to cover up the Lakers’ banners when they both played at the former Staples Center, but they don’t have those problems in their new $2-billion palace that puts the Lakers’ aging arena to shame.
And at least Clippers fans won’t have the bittersweet experience of watching Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is injured and won’t play in Inglewood. The reigning league MVP and NBA Finals MVP began his career with the Clippers in 2018, only to be traded to Oklahoma City a year later along with a jaw-dropping bounty of draft picks for Paul George.
The entire future beyond All-Star weekend is murky for the Clippers, between the looming investigation and uncertainty across the roster. But after the league marvels at the wonders of Intuit Dome, Frank and the respected Lue will continue working to keep the good times going.
“Yes, this is where I want to be,” Lue said. “Having an owner like Mr. Ballmer, who’s unbelievable, it does so many things for me. ... I want to be here.”
Tipping off the festivities on Friday is the time-honored fan favorite NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, where novice players with varying levels of fame — and athletic ability — face off against each other. Public personas in past editions of the games have ranged from actors and musicians to retired athletes, to politicians.
So, who will be playing in this year's Celebrity All-Star Game, and how can you watch? Here is everything you need to know.
Who is playing in the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game?
The All-Star Celebrity Game rosters are headlined by actor and comedian Keegan-Michael Key, actor Simu Liu, rapper GloRilla, "Love Island USA" star Nicolas Vansteenberghe, Grammy-award winning producer and LA native Mustard and ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania.
Also in the mix are current professional athletes such as Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen alongside retired legends such as Jason "White Chocolate" Williams and two-time FIFA World Cup champion Cazzu.
The teams will be coached by the Antetokounmpo brothers, Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts, Anthony Anderson, Lethal Shooter and NBA player development trainer Chris Brickley.
You can find the full rosters and coaches for the Celebrity Game here.
The best basketball players in the world meet up once again in the NBA All-Star Game this weekend from the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, home of the Los Angeles Clippers.
After tweaking the format again due to players over the years showing an utter disregard for playing hard, the league introduced a USA vs. World competition to make the game more competitive.
Last year's game was divided up into four teams: Team Chuck, Team Shaq, Team Kenny, and Team Candace. Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, who played for Team Shaq, was named the game's Most Valuable Player.
The 3-point contest, the slam dunk competition, and the shooting stars game are back in All-Star Saturday.
Here is what to know about the 2026 NBA All-Star weekend:
What is the new NBA All-Star format?
Each team will be divided into three teams with at least eight players each. Two of the teams will be made up of players from the United States (USA Stars and USA Stripes), and the third will feature international players. (Team World).
Games will be 12 minutes long, and each team will play every other team in the elimination rounds. If all teams end up with 1-1 records, teams with the highest point differential will play for the championship
In the sport of college basketball, about the only thing that is certain is uncertainty. The final NCAA men's tournament bracket still won’t be announced for over a month, and it will in all likelihood look quite different from this latest projection from our USA TODAY Sports team of bracketologists.
In just the last few days since our most recent effort, we’ve seen half the teams that were projected as top two seeds lose. That includes Arizona, though the Wildcats are still comfortably on the first line. Iowa State, which lost to a TCU team much farther down the Big 12 standings, will slip back to a No. 3.
The Big Ten shook things up as well. Purdue replaces Nebraska on the No. 2 line as the Boilermakers outlasted the Cornhuskers in overtime. Also falling back is Illinois to a No. 3 seed after the Fighting Illini lost in overtime for the second consecutive game.
In the ACC, Virginia is back in the top 16 as a No. 4 seed, while North Carolina slides a line after losing at Miami. Virginia Tech inched closer to the bubble with a win at Clemson but still has work to do to make the field.
Bracketology: NCAA Tournament projection for March Madness
March Madness Last four in
Miami (Fla.), Southern California, San Diego State, UCLA.
March Madness First four out
: New Mexico, Virginia Tech, TCU, Missouri.
NCAA tournament bids conference breakdown
Multi-bid leagues: Big Ten (11), SEC (10), ACC (8) Big 12 (7), Big East (3), West Coast (3), Mountain West (2).
It might have taken slightly longer than usual, but we have at last reached the point in the men’s college basketball season when the grind is finally catching up to even the best teams.
Several top-10 squads and numerous other ranked teams have already been beaten this week, including the No.-1 team in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll tasting defeat for the first time. Those Arizona Wildcats return to action on another busy Saturday, as well as the team that handed them that first loss.
We begin the day in the ACC, where the Tigers are coming off an unexpected home loss to Virginia Tech and must now brave the Cameron Crazies. The Blue Devils for their part were able to shake off last weekend’s setback at North Carolina with a business-like win at struggling Pittsburgh despite the absence of center Patrick Ngongba, who sat out with a wrist injury and might still be unavailable. Clemson spreads its scoring wealth but often lacks a true takeover guy, which could again be a problem against a Duke squad that appears to have figured out its defensive issues.
No. 9 Kansas at No. 4 Iowa State
Time/TV: 1 p.m. ET, ABC
It has not been a good week for basketball in the state of Iowa. The Cyclones cracked the top five only to squander a late lead at TCU. All that will be forgotten, however, if they can defend their home court and avenge last month’s loss to the Jayhawks, who are fresh off that Arizona victory but have not been as reliable on the road. As usual, much of the pregame chatter concerns KU’s mercurial freshman Darryn Peterson, who missed Monday’s win due to flu symptoms. Whether or not Peterson is available, the Cyclones will have to figure out their own offensive inconsistencies, starting with facilitator Tamin Lipsey finding his own shooting touch.
Kentucky at No. 14 Florida
Time/TV: 3 p.m. ET, ABC
Florida’s quest for a repeat championship didn’t begin well. But the Gators seem to have found their winning formula just in time. Their modest winning streak could get a test here, however, as the Wildcats got a few days off to recharge after outlasting Tennessee last Saturday. It will be a homecoming of sorts for UK’s Denzel Aberdeen, who was part of Florida’s title team a season ago before transferring to Lexington. He and Otega Oweh could give the Wildcats the edge in perimeter fire power, but there might not be answers for Florida’s inside trio led by Thomas Haugh.
No. 12 Purdue at No. 25 Iowa
Time/TV: 5 p.m. ET, Fox
Like their in-state counterparts from Ames, the Hawkeyes also return home from a subpar road outing. Iowa’s loss at Maryland dinged an otherwise solid body of work, but a win against the Boilermakers would help repair the damage. Purdue is coming off a valuable victory at Nebraska, though the result was nearly a catastrophic collapse. The game features two of the league’s top floor leaders, Purdue’s Braden Smith and the Hawkeyes’ Bennett Stirtz. Both teams can be overly reliant on three-pointers, though the Boilermakers are better equipped to compensate with rebounds if the shots aren’t falling.
No. 16 Texas Tech at No. 1 Arizona
Time/TV: 6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
The prime time headliner finds the Wildcats looking to bounce back from defeat for the first time. The Red Raiders were all business in their midweek tuneup against struggling Colorado, but the environs at the McKale Center won’t be nearly as friendly. Texas Tech’s inside-out tandem of J.T. Toppin and Christian Anderson will need someone else to help with the scoring load against Arizona’s balanced lineup. Wildcats forward Koa Peat will look to find his rhythm early after Monday’s rough outing against Kansas.
The Slam Dunk Contest has been long considered the crown jewel of NBA All-Star weekend. The climactic point between the Rising Stars Game on Friday and the NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, the dunk contest has been home to some of the most iconic moments in the history of the league — an indelible flash point in the legacies of stars such as Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Vince Carter and Dominique Wilkins.
But while the history of the dunk contest is undeniable, its present has fallen flat despite attempts of stars such as Jaylen Brown trying to bring hype back to the event. This year, the field includes four young players — two of which are rookies — and though the initial reaction has been disappointment, don't rule out the chances of this year being a sleeper.
Here's everything you need to know about the 2026 NBA All-Star Slam Dunk Contest:
When is the 2026 NBA All-Star Slam Dunk Contest?
The 2026 NBA All-Star dunk contest will be held on Saturday, Feb. 14 in Los Angeles at the Intuit Dome, home of the Clippers. The dunk contest will directly follow the 3-point contest and the return of the shooting stars competition.
All-Star Saturday begins at 5:00 p.m. ET.
When is the 2026 NBA 3-Point Contest?
The 3-point contest is one part of the Saturday festivities, which begin at 5 p.m. ET. The 3-point contest will preceed the popular slam dunk event.
Who is participating in the 2026 NBA All-Star Slam Dunk Contest?
The dunk contest will have a new champion this year after three-time defending champion Mac McClung announced to ESPN through his father he'd be sitting out this year .
This year, the field features two rookies in Bryant and Richardson. Richardson, selected 25th overall by the Magic in last year's draft, is the son of two-time Slam Dunk Contest winner Jason Richardson (2002 and 03). Hayes is in his third season with the Lakers and seventh NBA season in total.
While not a starter, he's thrived in a backup role in LA and and has been the beneficiary of more than a few lobs from LeBron James and Luka Doncic. Johnson is in his second NBA season; his rookie year was split between Miami and their G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce.
The field is set for AT&T Slam Dunk ⬇️
A new champion will be crowned, with all four players making their event debuts.
Who won the NBA All-Star Slam Dunk Contest last year?
McClung won the dunk contest in 2025, capping off a three-peat for the G League star that began in 2023. Though he won't be competing in 2026, McClung revealed on Twitter that he plans on sharing the dunks he had been working on after the contest ends.
But since we prepared for it Chuck, I’ll be releasing the dunks we came up with after the contest! https://t.co/gi5Z1xMg4K
Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro netted 24 points in the final round of action to take the prize last year. He beat out the likes of sharpshooters Darius Garland and Buddy Hield.
Who are the judges for the 2026 NBA All-Star Slam Dunk Contest?
The NBA announced that the judges for the 2026 Slam Dunk Contest will feature four former winners, including Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famers Dominique Wilkins and Dwight Howard. Three-time dunk contest winner Nate Robinson — a three-time winner in 2006, 2009 and 2010 — and Brent Barry round out the field.
Wilkins, who won the dunk contest in 1985 and 1990, is one of the greatest dunkers of all time, having earned the nickname, "The Human Highlight Reel." He's best known for his legendary dunk contest battles with Michael Jordan in the late 80s, the first of which birthed Jordan's iconic dunk from the free throw line.
Howard won the dunk contest in 2008, and one year later helped Robinson secure the second of his three-peat by standing in as the 5'9 guard leapt over him for the jam.
The NBA announced that a fifth judge will be a content creator voted on by fans as the NBA ID member rep. The nominees are comedian Druski, NBA shooting coach Chris “Lethal Shooter” Matthews and Dude Perfect co-founder Tyler Toney.
Will it be Tyler Toney, Lethal Shooter or Druski? Vote for your choice now on the NBA App and see who represents the fans, Saturday at 5pm/et on NBC and Peacock!
What are the rules for the 2026 NBA All-Star Slam Dunk Contest?
The full list of rules for the NBA Slam Dunk Contest can be found on the All-Star website.
Four dunkers will compete in the two-round competition. For each dunk, a score from 40 to 50 will be given by each judge. The average of the five judges’ scores will be the individual dunk score. The two players with the highest dunk scores at the end of the first round will advance to the second and final round.
For each scored dunk in both rounds (Dunks #1 and #2 in the First Round and Dunks #1 and #2 in the Final Round), each dunker will have 90 seconds and a maximum of three attempts to complete the dunk. If the player has not completed the dunk at the expiration of the 90 seconds, he will be given a final try to complete the dunk. If the player does not complete the dunk, he will receive a score of 40 points.
Tiebreakers in the first round will be decided by a vote from the judges; the player with the most votes will advance. In the second round, a tiebreaker will be decided by a one-dunk dunk off to determine the champion.
The NBA’s brightest young stars will be on display during the Rising Stars Challenge in the Los Angeles area on Friday, Feb. 13.
The league will spend the weekend in Inglewood, California, showcasing its talent, with rookies Kon Knueppel (Charlotte Hornets) and VJ Edgecombe (Philadelphia 76ers) headlining the Rising Stars Challenge tournament.
Cooper Flagg of the Dallas Mavericks was expected to compete, but was a late scratch due to injury. He was drafted to play for Team Melo. Flagg had averaged 20.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists in 49 games played this season. He's considered the favorite for the NBA's Rookie of the Year based on odds at BetMGM. Washington Wizards center Alex Sarr was also scheduled to participate, but it was announced Thursday that he will now be scratched and miss the next two weeks with a hamstring injury.
Knueppel is second, averaging 18.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game in 53 games played for Charlotte. He will play for Team T-Mac.
Edgecombe has averaged 14.9 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists in 49 games played for Philly. He’ll play for Team Vince.
Kevin Durant and Hakeem Olajuwon Talk SGA, Jokić, Embiid, and the Evolution of Basketball
KD and Hakeem discuss the transformation of hoops over the years, comparing the physical, center-heavy ’90s era to today’s shooter-driven game.
In the latest episode of Boardroom Talks, two generations of basketball greatness sat down to reflect on the evolution of the game. Kevin Durant, known for his smooth scoring and lethal versatility, wanted Hakeem Olajuwon's perspective on modern basketball. “I just really want to get your view on the game today and the style of play, because a lot of people frown upon how we play the game today,” Durant said, setting the stage for a conversation bridging decades.
Olajuwon, the Hall of Fame center who dominated the ’90s with unparalleled footwork and defensive prowess, leaned in. Durant explained how the ’90s represented a golden era of physicality, when centers ruled, spacing was different, and scoring was balanced by toughness. Hakeem acknowledged the shift: “Today's game, a lot of shooters. I mean, I've seen guys pass it up and lay up and kick it for 3.”
They marveled at how today’s stars create space and make the game look effortless. The conversation turned toward players who embody this new era, blending athleticism and craft. Hakeem complimented Durant directly: “You, No. 1.” Durant chuckled, appreciative of the nod from one of the greatest to ever play.
Their discussion flowed naturally from praise to analysis. Hakeem mentioned players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokić, who make difficult shots off balance, one-legged, yet still convert. When Durant asked about Joel Embiid, a player who modeled his game similarly to Olajuwon, Hakeem summed it up simply: “I mean, he got everything.” Durant drew the comparison to Olajuwon, noting Embiid's moves and style that carry the legacy forward. “You can tell he watches you,” KD concluded, connecting the dots between eras.
By the end of their conversation, the room had become more than a reflection on basketball; it was a meditation on evolution, respect, and continuity. Two legends, from different eras, shared a language only the game could provide, revealing that while the style may change, the essence of excellence remains timeless.
Jan 30, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Jaylon Tyson (20) against the Phoenix Suns at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Good morning, it’s Friday, February 13th. The Cleveland Cavaliers are 32-21 and are off until next Thursday. For now, enjoy the All-Star break, and maybe watch a Friday the 13th movie tonight to honor the holiday. I’d recommend part four or part six.
Since there are no games on tonight, we’ll instead focus on the Rising Stars Game, where Cavalier sophomore Jaylon Tyson will be competing.
Today’s Event of the Day
2026 Castrol Rising Stars Game – 9 PM, Peacock
NBA All-Star weekend is kicking off with the Rising Stars Game. This event returns with another tournament format featuring four different teams. Here are the rosters for each team:
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - FEBRUARY 12: Nikola Topic #44 of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives to the basket past Cam Thomas #24 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the first half at Paycom Center on February 12, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by William Purnell/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This may just be the feel-good moment to kick off All-Star Weekend:
Nikola Topić made his NBA debut four months after battling cancer 💙
On Thursday night as OKC faced the Milwaukee Bucks, Nikola Topic made his NBA debut.
Topic, the 12th pick in the 2024 NBA draft, missed all of last season because of a knee injury. Before the 2025-2026 season started, he was diagnosed with testicular cancer. He had a procedure in October, underwent chemotherapy, and has since been working his way back into shape.
The Serbian guard was given a loud ovation as he entered the game late in the first quarter. He tallied two points and an assist in twelve minutes of play.
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