INGLEWOOD, CA - FEBRUARY 13: Kyshawn George #18 of Team Vince drives to the basket during the game against Team T-Mac during the 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend Rising Stars Game on Friday, February 13, 2026 at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Team Vince won the 2026 NBA Rising Stars championship on Friday night with Washington Wizards guard Kyshawn George contributing in both contests.
In the semifinals, Team Vince played Team T-Mac which also featured Wizards guard Bub Carrington and forward Tre Johnson. In that contest, Team Vince won 41-36 with George scoring 4 points and VJ Edgecombe leading the way with 17 points for the victors. For Team T-Mac, Johnson scored 8 points while Carrington also scored 2 more.
In the other semifinal, Team Melo beat Team Austin, 40-34.
The final had Team Vince facing off against Team Melo and won 25-24. George scored 2 points while Edgecombe led again with 6 points. Edgecombe also won the Rising Stars MVP award.
It’s good to see one of the Wizards’ younger players come away with some hardware leaving the Rising Stars challenge. From hereon, Washington won’t really be part of All-Star Weekend. So I hope you enjoy Valentine’s Day tomorrow and the long weekend which includes President’s Day on Monday.
The ghosts still live in the rafters of the Forum.
You can feel them the moment you walk through those circular corridors in Inglewood — the echoes of Magic’s no-look passes, Kareem’s skyhook carving air like a sculptor’s blade, the bass line of the Showtime Lakers pulsing through a building that once felt like the center of the basketball universe.
With most of NBA All-Star Weekend migrating down the street to the glistening new Intuit Dome, it felt right — almost rebellious — that the Ruffles Celebrity All-Star Game planted its flag back inside the old cathedral: the Fabulous Forum.
The Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game planted its flag back inside the old cathedral: the Fabulous Forum NBAE via Getty Images
Before a single ball was tipped, the afternoon delivered its most authentic moment. Former NBA forward Richard Jefferson strolled his kids through the legendary Forum Club entrance, where Lakers icon James Worthy greeted them like a velvet-rope guardian of basketball history. Worthy playfully demanded a password before letting them in, smiling as he reminisced about the good old days. It was nostalgia with a wink — a reminder that this building once demanded excellence.
Then the game started.
And excellence quietly slipped out the side door.
Let’s call it what it was: a glorified YMCA pick-up game with better lighting and worse defense. I’ve had runs at 24-hour fitness with more urgency and effort. The Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game has always been an exhibition, but this version often felt like an influencer’s content shoot masquerading as competition.
The Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game has always been an exhibition with celebs like GloRilla (above). Getty Images
There were more air balls than baskets made. Strange gimmicky bonuses floated through each quarter like carnival prizes. NBA Mascots playing defense? Eight-point shots? Sure. Why not. When Chinese actor-singer Dylan Wang received the loudest ovation of all during the roster introductions — you understood immediately what Friday afternoon was really about: spectacle over substance.
There were moments worth the price of admission. Watching Victor Wembanyama conduct the opening tip while looking up — actually looking up — at 7-foot-6 Tacko Fall was a visual glitch in the basketball matrix. Since when does Wemby crane his neck for anyone? Fall, predictably, dominated stretches of the game, turning the paint into his personal backyard court. It would be the equivalent of a normal person lowering the hoop down to 6 feet and playing against kindergartners.
Rome Flynn goes off the backboard to Tacko Fall for the alley-oop slam!
The surprise performance of the afternoon came from former Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen, who flashed real athleticism, slicing through the lane with purpose. Finishing at the rim, draining jump shots and blocking shots. Allen seemed to be the only player on the court who upped the competitive level of play.
“I had a lot of fun,” Allen said afterward. “I wish we could have gotten the W.”
Fun, yes. Competitive, no.
And that’s where the NBA has to take a long look in the mirror.
Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts hits the hardwood at the Celebrity All-Star Game. NBAE via Getty Images
The highlight of the day wasn’t a crossover or a dunk. It was halftime. K-pop sensation CORTIS turned the Forum into a glowing constellation. Thousands of fans, many clearly there just for them, lifted their phones as the arena lights dimmed into a full-blown Showtime fever dream. Built-in seat lighting shimmered. Rappers including 2 Chainz and two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo bounced along courtside. For a moment, it felt like the old Lakers glory days — lights down, spotlight bright, the building alive.
That’s the irony. The halftime performance felt like it had more star power than the game itself.
Allen didn’t mince words about sharing the floor with former NBA pros like Fall and Jeremy Lin, who casually drained an eight-point shot that sealed the 65-58 victory for Team Giannis.
“That’s a bunch of BS,” Allen said. “Jeremy Lin hit an eight-point shot, Tacko Fall went off … like what are we supposed to do? Most of us are normal people. We have to have big faces out here. Keep the celebrities coming.”
He’s right.
If this is going to be the NBA’s Hollywood showcase, then go all in. Load it with real A-listers who can actually hoop. Imagine Adam Sandler tossing lobs to Timothée Chalamet. Picture Justin Bieber crossing up Zac Efron. George Clooney plays pickup games before the Oscars — invite him. Call Ben Affleck. Call Matt Damon. Rapper J. Cole has real bounce. Give fans something that feels like a cultural event, not a mildly organized open gym session.
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Team Giannis rallied to defeat Anthony Anderson’s squad, with Rome Flynn scoring 17 points and taking home MVP honors for the second straight year — though if we’re being honest, Fall’s impact told a different story. But that’s the thing about this game. It’s not really about the box score.
It’s about the vibe.
Friday afternoon at the Kia Forum had it — history, music, flashes of athletic brilliance. What it lacked was edge. Urgency. True star wattage on the hardwood.
In a city that understands spectacle better than anywhere on Earth, the Celebrity All-Star Game feels like it’s flirting with greatness. The building deserves more. The game of basketball deserves more. The fans deserve more.
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 4: Darius Garland of the Los Angeles Clippers greets former Cleveland Cavaliers teammates after a game at Intuit Dome on February 4, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Wally Skalij/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Garland last played an NBA game on Jan. 14 in the Cavs win over the Philadelphia 76ers. He left that game with a right great toe injury. The team announced on the following day that the injury would be re-evaluated in seven to 10 days.
That latest injury was to the opposite toe as the one that Garland injured at the end of last season. The injury to the left great toe is what required him to miss multiple playoff games and led to surgery over the summer.
Garland returned to the court early this season, but never quite looked right. The speed and ability to move side-to-side simply weren’t at the level we saw last season, and he admitted as much at times.
Apparently, the initial injury to the left great toe is going to keep him out “indefinitely” with the Clippers, according to The Athletic’s Law Murray.
He (Garland) mentioned in his Clippers introduction that he is “back on the court, working out, doing all the things I love to do. Just waiting on the green light — I’m ready to hoop.” (Lawrence) Frank (Clippers President of Basketball Operations) said that the Clippers will change Garland’s injury designation to reflect that the right foot toe sprain that has kept him out for nearly four weeks has healed, while Garland’s still-sore, surgically repaired left foot toe will keep him out indefinitely.
“We are going to manage this correctly, OK?” Frank said. “We are not gonna skip any steps. Because we think the short-term investment will lead to long-term rewards. … We’re gonna get it right and take as long as it takes. But we’re very confident that by taking the time now, it’s gonna give him a long runway. He’s only 26, and we want to see him playing at a high level for a long time.”
As more news comes out, it becomes clear that Garland’s toe was a major factor in why the trade was executed and why the Cavs had to add a second-round pick to make it all work.
So far, the deal has gone well for the Cavs. Harden has played phenomenally, but it is disappointing that the Cavaliers weren’t able to have Garland healthy when they needed him during the last postseason, and that he still isn’t quite 100%.
Feb 13, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Team Vince guard VJ Edgecombe (77) of the Philadelphia 76ers shoots during an NBA All Star Rising Stars game at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
VJ Edgecombe, the crunch-time machine, got after it once again on the national stage!
On Friday evening during the Rising Stars event, Edgecombe played for Vince Carter and Team Vince as part of the All-Star Weekend festivities. When I say this is the most unimportant basketball activity that the beloved Sixers rookie has undertaken in years, I truly mean it, but Edgecombe showcased the skills that have endeared himself so much to Philadelphia and that have everyone believing he will soon be a great NBA player.
In the semifinals matchup with Tracy McGrady’s Team T-Mac, Edgecombe dropped 17 points, including multiple threes, a downright beautiful finger roll and a mid-range jumper that made it a 41-36 game to have Team Vince advance to the championship round. Edgecombe scored Team Vince’s final 10 points on the road to a matchup against Carmelo Anthony’s Team Melo.
As Edgecombe heated up in the semifinals, Peacock commentator Reggie Miller remarked that Edgecombe was coming for the event’s MVP Award. That was the vibe and he was ultimately proved correct!
I was ready to be completely dismissive of this night entirely, writing that Edgecombe’s winning style of basketball probably wouldn’t gel well with first-time teammates rather than being in a more cohesive, season-long situation, but Edgecombe was a crunch-time maestro to open things up, playing more spirited basketball than anyone out there.
In the championship bout that was a race to hit or eclipse 25 points, Edgecombe wasn’t as pronounced as a scorer or ball-handler initially. He did the “little things,” once more pushing the ball in transition, working as a handy passer and playing all out defensively. Edgecombe made his scoring impact known once again, however, when things mattered the most. Edgecombe fought for an offensive rebound and put-back bucket that had Team Vince take a 23-22 lead late over Team Melo. It was pure effort with Edgecombe barreling through traffic. It was the type of energy that Sixers fans are already accustomed to seeing on a nightly basis with the rookie.
Driving to the basket for the win with Team Melo soon taking a 24-23 lead, Edgecombe was fouled and sent to the charity stripe. Edgecombe, naturally, sank both shots, giving Team Vince the 25-24 win.
I know the common refrain is that All-Star Weekend has been mightily diluted, but it was a blast watching Edgecombe do his thing. Let’s keep it rolling with Tyrese Maxey taking part in the three-point contest and the All-Star Game itself the next few days!
Nets rookie Egor Demin showed what he could do for Team Vince en route to winning the 2026 Rising Stars Championship on Friday night in Los Angeles.
For Demin and Team Vince -- coached by Nets legend Vince Carter -- the tournament began with a 41-36 win over Team T-Mac (the target score was 40). In the game, Demin scored just two points on 1 of 3 shooting, but came down with two rebounds, dished two assists and came up with one steal in his nine minutes of play.
Team Vince advanced thanks to the heroics of Phillies rookie VJ Edgecombe, who scored 17 points. Edgecombe scored 10 straight, including the game-winner, to help the team get to the finals against Team Melo.
In the Finals, Demin didn't factor too much down the stretch. He scored a quick bucket, going 1-for-2 with two rebounds and a block in four minutes of play but it was Edgecombe again with the heroics. In a back-and-forth game, the Sixers guard won the game for Team Vince. Down 24-23 (target score was 25 points), Edgecombe drove to the basket and was fouled by Trail Blazers center Donovan Clingan. Edgecombe knocked down both free throws to win the game.
Feb 13, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Team T-Mac guard Jaylon Tyson (20) of the Cleveland Cavaliers controls the ball against Team Vince guard Egor Demin (8) of the Brooklyn Nets during an NBA All Star Rising Stars game at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Cleveland Cavaliers wing Jaylon Tyson had a strong showing in the Rising Stars game on Friday evening. He led Team T-Mac in points (10) and rebounds (5) in their loss to Team Vince.
The format for this competition is a mini-tournament. The two teams played a game to 40 points, with the winner advancing to the final. Since Tyson’s team lost, his night was over after one mini-game.
Tyson performed well. He kept his team in the game with timely scoring and rebounding. He also provided some resistance on the defensive end, which is about as much as you can ask for in this All-Star game setting. It was a solid outing for the second-year Cavalier.
His highlights of the night were a nice alley-oop to Miami Heat center Kel’el Ware and a smooth Euro-step to keep his team within striking distance down the stretch.
Donovan Mitchell was there to support his teammate with a front-row seat. He called for the MVP award for Tyson before the game even started, and cheered for him every opportunity he had from courtside.
Tyson’s team didn’t have an answer for Philadelphia 76ers rookie V.J. Edgecombe. He provided a game-high 17 points on 6-8 shooting to help lead Team Vince to the victory.
Team Vince went on to defeat Team Melo in the final game of the Rising Stars mini-tournament.
Mitchell is the lone representative for the Cavs for the remainder of NBA All-Star Weekend. He’ll be participating in the 3-Point Contest on Saturday and will be on one of the two US teams in the All-Star Game on Sunday.
In a game that featured Tacko Fall dunks, mascots playing defense and NBA and MLB MVPs on the sidelines, it was a boy band that actually stole the show on Friday night at the Kia Forum.
The fivesome belted out “GO!” and “FaSHioN,” and their vocals and dance moves were so mesmerizing, even Giannis Antetokounmpo — a coach of one of the All-Star teams — stopped for a moment to catch the show with his family.
CORTIS performed at halftime of the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game on Friday. Getty Images
CORTIS hung around for most of the matchup’s second half in some courtside seats, and at one point, the exhibition’s emcee got the hundreds in attendance to sing “Happy Birthday” to Keonho.
Fans could later be heard roaring when the group left the arena in the fourth quarter.
The fivesome sang two songs at the Forum on Friday night, “GO!” and “FaSHioN.” Getty Images
It’s the second straight night CORTIS has wowed in Los Angeles. On Thursday, they performed at the NBA Crossover fan festivities in Downtown LA and then got the VIP treatment at the Lakers vs. Mavericks game.
Prior to Friday night’s tilt, Mookie Betts — another high-profile coach at the celeb game — invited them to head out to Dodger Stadium this season.
The K-pop sensations, of course, were hardly the only famous figures watching actors, musicians and athletes battle it out on the hardwood. Guy Fieri, Victor Wembanyama, Devin Booker, 2 Chainz and Dwight Howard all had chairs to catch the action.
Actor Rome Flynn took home MVP honors at the celebrity game Friday night. NBAE via Getty Images
Team Giannis ultimately bested Team Anthony (coached by comedian Anthony Anderson), 65-58. Actor Rome Flynn took home MVP honors for the second straight year.
But, for those in the building, it was clear the biggest winners Friday were CORTIS.
INGLEWOOD, CA - JANUARY 19: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers and James Harden #1 of the LA Clippers during the game against the LA Clippers on January 19, 2025 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California. 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 Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
On Friday, ESPN’s Tim McMahon said on NBA Today that there’s “rampant speculation” around the league that James will sign with Cleveland for a potential retirement tour this summer.
Tim MacMahon on LeBron James:
There is rampant speculation around the league that this summer there's going to be a reunion and potentially a retirement tour for the ages back home again with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Anything bought from the links helps support Fear the Sword. You can also shop all of Homage’s Cavs gear HERE. The link to the 2016 championship shirt HERE.
At this point, it feels like LeBron will be returning home to Cleveland unless he retires after this season. What that would look like from a salary perspective remains to be seen.
The Cavs are currently over the second apron. They would not have access to the full mid-level exception unless they got under both aprons and then cut additional salary to carve out a spot for that exception. There’s also the possibility of a sign-and-trade if the Cavs get below the first apron. Or, James could opt to sign for a minimum contract.
It’s pointless to speculate too much on the finances at this point. There’s numerous scenarios for making this work from a cap perspective. If both sides want James to play in Cleveland, they’ll find a way to make it happen as they did back in 2014.
Even though LeBron is 41 years old, he’s still playing at an exceptionally high level. He recorded a triple-double in his last outing in the Los Angeles Lakers‘ win over the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday. On the season, James is averaging 22 points, 7.1 assists, and 5.8 rebounds on .502/.305/.746 shooting splits in a mostly supporting role alongside Luka Doncic.
We’ll see how this plays out. In the meantime, we can rest assured that there’s going to be plenty more rumors about James returning to Cleveland between now and July.
LaVine, who turns 31 in March, is the Kings’ leading scorer, averaging 19.2 points per game on 47.9 percent shooting and 39 percent from 3-point land.
The oft-injured scorer was limited to just 39 games this season before being shut down with his upcoming surgery.
Zach LaVine of the Sacramento Kings looks on during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on January 29, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NBAE via Getty Images
Coming off one of the best seasons of his career, having averaged 23.3 points per game on career-bests 44.9 percent from three and 51.1 percent overall, LaVine’s game took a step back this year.
LaVine ends the 2025-26 season having averaged his fewest points per game since his fourth year in the league in 2017-18.
His -8.0 plus-minus was also the worst of his career.
Karl-Anthony Towns, Jalen Brunson and Allan Houston are forming a Knicks team at an All-Star Weekend event.
The Knicks won’t have any participants in either the Slam Dunk Contest or the 3-point shooting competition Saturday night at All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles, but the organization will be represented in an event that is returning to the NBA showcase after a 10-year absence.
The Shooting Stars is back for the first time since 2015, and a Knicks squad featuring current All-Stars Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns will be joined by team executive and former All-Star Allan Houston among four teams competing in the returning event Saturday night at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif.
First introduced in 2004, the Shooting Stars features the three players on each team attempting shots of different difficulty and point levels at seven locations from around the court.
The top two of the four teams will advance beyond the opening round and square off in the championship round.
Each team will consist of two current NBA players and one league “legend,” with this year’s groups representing a specific NBA team (the Knicks), as well as All-Star connections, college affiliations and one with family ties.
Jalen Brunson attempts a shot during the Knicks’ Feb. 10 game against the Pacers. Robert Sabo for the NY Post
Interestingly, Houston also was part of the previous all-New York squad to win this competition, with then-Knicks guard Landry Fields and Cappie Pondexter of the Liberty in 2012.
In addition to the Brunson/Towns/Houston trio, wing Scottie Barnes of the Raptors will join forces with Chet Holmgren of the Thunder and Pistons great Richard Hamilton on Team All-Star.
The others will be Team Cameron with former Duke players Jalen Johnson (Hawks), Kon Knueppel (Hornets) and Corey Maggette and Team Harper featuring Dylan Harper (Spurs) and Ron Harper Jr. (Celtics) with their father, Ron Harper Sr.
Saturday’s other events include the annual Slam Dunk Contest, although Mac McClung will not be taking part after winning the event each of the previous three years.
Allan Houston is pictured Dec. 12. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
This year’s competitors will include Carter Bryant of the Spurs, Jaxson Hayes of the Lakers, Keshad Johnson of the Heat and Jase Richardson of the Magic.
Brunson had participated in the 3-point contest in each of the previous two years, getting knocked out in the first round both times, but the All-Star starter will not be in the eight-player field this weekend.
Karl-Anthony Towns reacts during the Knicks’ Feb. 1 game. Jason Szenes for the NY Post
The eight contestants will be Devin Booker (Suns), Damian Lillard (Trail Blazers), Knueppel (Hornets), Tyrese Maxey (76ers), Donovan Mitchell (Cavaliers), Jamal Murray (Nuggets), Norman Powell (Heat) and Bobby Portis (Bucks).
Lillard, a two-time winner in 2023 and 2024, has not played this season for Portland after suffering a torn Achilles in the playoffs last spring with the Bucks. Tyler Herro of the Heat took the trophy one year ago.
The All-Star Game on Sunday also will come with a new format, with the players split into three teams: two rosters of American players and one “World” team.
Towns was born in New Jersey, but he will play for the World squad because he represents the Dominican Republic in international play.
Egor Dëmin dunks the ball during the Nets’ Feb. 7 game against the Wizards. Jason Szenes for the NY Post
The Nets were represented Friday night in the Rising Stars tournament by rookie lottery pick Egor Dëmin, the first of their record five first-round picks at No. 8 overall.
The 6-foot-8 Dëmin, who is averaging 10.8 points and 3.3 assists in 46 games (39 starts) for Brooklyn, scored four points in 12:28 over two games for Vince Carter’s team, which defeated Carmelo Anthony’s squad, 25-24, in the championship game.
BIRMINGHAM, AL JANUARY 24: Riley Minix #22 of the Cleveland Charge drives to the basket during the game against the Birmingham Squadron on January 24, 2026 at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, AL. 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 GettyImages License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Mercedes Oliver/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers filled their last roster spot when they added Nae’Qwan Tomlin to a standard contract. Now, they’ve found someone for their final two-way spot. According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, that slot is going to Riley Minix.
The Cleveland Cavaliers and Riley Minix have agreed to a two-way deal, league sources told @hoopshype. Minix has averaged 17.5 points on 51.2% from the field and 42.6% from 3-point range in the G League this season. Minix previously was a two-way player for the San Antonio Spurs. pic.twitter.com/F6IsLm2GDo
Minix went undrafted in the 2024 NBA Draft. He was invited to training camp with the San Antonio Spurs and ended up making the team on a two-way deal. He played just one game with the Spurs in his rookie season and spent most of his time with their G League affiliate, the Austin Spurs.
Minix started this season on a two-way contract as well, but was waived on Dec. 12. Overall, he played just four NBA games with San Antonio over two seasons.
On Jan. 13, the Cleveland Charge — G League affiliate of the Cavs — acquired his returning player rights from the Austin Spurs. He’s appeared in 12 games with the Charge since.
On the season, the 6’7”, 25-year-old forward has averaged 17.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.2 steals per game on .512/.426/.767 shooting splits in the G League.
The three-point shot is the obvious weapon for Minix. Last season, he connected on 41.4% of his three-point looks with Austin on 7.4 threes per contest. If he’s going to make a lasting impact in the NBA, presumably, it will be because of the outside shot.
Minix has had an unconventional journey to professional basketball. He played four collegiate seasons at Southeastern University, a smaller school that competes in the NAIA. After having the advantage of the COVID season, he played one season at Morehead State, averaging 20.9 points and 9.7 rebounds per game.
Minnix joins Tristian Enaruna and Emanuel Miller on two-way deals with the Cavs.
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 9: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Isaiah Hartenstein #55 of the Oklahoma City Thunder boxes out during the game on February 9, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Lakers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
While the Lakers were buyers at the trade deadline, they did more window shopping than anything else.
The counterargument Lakers President of Basketball Operations made that LA was aggressive by saying no to trades didn’t exactly help his case or ease frustrations with the fanbase either.
So while waiting for the summer, when a player like Giannis Antetokounmpo could become available might be the best move, it doesn’t mean fans will be happy with the current state of the purple and gold.
The only hope fans have now is that the Lakers’ roster can return from the All-Star break healthy.
The trio of LeBron, Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves has only played 10 games together. So, if they will all be available the rest of the way, perhaps that will be enough to pull off a surprise run like LA did in 2023, when they made it to the Western Conference Finals.
Knueppel is 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.
Feb 11, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) drives to the basket beside Washington Wizards guard Bub Carrington (7) in the third quarter at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images | David Richard-Imagn Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Cavaliers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Things change quickly in the NBA. Fans of the Cleveland Cavaliers know that better than anyone else. This past trade deadline came with many changes, from small moves like salary dumping Lonzo Ball to seismic changes like swapping Darius Garland for 11-time All-Star James Harden.
In our last fan survey, we focused on that big move.
Forgive the typo on our graphic. I didn’t want to bother our team with changing this on short notice. But we asked Cavs fans (not Rockets fans) to grade the Harden trade. Here are the results:
Roughly two-thirds of Cavs fans gave this move an A. Only 1% of fans gave it below a C, and zero fans thought this was an F.
We should clarify that the survey was held this week. So this isn’t an immediate reaction to the Harden trade. Seeing three straight wins with Harden dishing the ball has certainly raised our opinions of the deal.
For our second question, we wanted to know if this move raised Cleveland’s ceiling. To no surprise, the fans again showed that they are all-in on the beard.
A whopping 96% of Cavs fans believe their ceiling is higher now with Harden. That’s probably the highest percentage we’ve had on a survey yet. I can’t necessarily blame them. The Cavs have won five straight and hold the best record in the NBA since December 29th.
FanDuel has Cleveland with the sixth-highest odds to win the NBA Finals. They rank third in the East, behind the Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons. I’d expect those numbers to improve if the Cavs keep rolling after the All-Star Break.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 31: VJ Edgecombe #77 of the Philadelphia 76ers dribbles the ball during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on January 31, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
All-Star Weekend gets underway at the Intuit Dome, home of the Los Angeles Clippers, on Friday night! After the celebrity game tips off at 7 p.m. on ESPN, which I cannot fathom anyone on planet Earth caring about, the Rising Stars Challenge begins at 9 p.m. and streams on Peacock!
For clarity’s sake, the Rising Stars Challenge will once again feature four teams playing in a three-game tournament. It’ll feature three teams of young NBA talent and a team of G-League players going against one another. The Sixers’ own VJ Edgecombe will be on “Team Vince,” coached by NBA legend Vince Carter.
The first Rising Stars game will get going at 9 p.m. and feature Austin Rivers’ “Team Austin,” the G-League squad, facing off against Carmelo Anthony’s “Team Melo.” At 9:55 p.m., Edgecombe and Team Vince will face Tracy McGrady’s “Team T-Mac,” which features Charlotte’s Kon Knueppel. The winners of each respective game will face off in the championship round at 10:35 p.m.
For each semifinal game, the first team to reach or exceed 40 points wins. For the championship, the winning figure is 25 points. Got it? Well, I barely do, but All-Star Weekend goes on either way.
Feel free to chat about the All-Star festivities, Edgecombe, the Sixers or legitimately anything else in our open thread for the evening!
There will be a recap of Edgecombe’s performance after Team Vince finishes up as well, so stay tuned to Liberty Ballers for that too! Let’s hope he balls out.
