The excitement for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game continues to build as the event approaches, set to take place on Sunday afternoon at the Clippers’ newly opened Intuit Dome. With the rosters officially confirmed, the league has introduced an innovative format featuring a USA vs. World structure in a round-robin tournament format. A total of 28 players have been named All-Stars, including Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox, who was added as an injury replacement on Thursday.
This year’s All-Star Game will unfold as a mini-tournament where each team competes against the others to secure a spot in the title game. The American talent will be divided into two squads: Team USA Stars, featuring rising young stars like Scottie Barnes, Cade Cunningham, and Tyrese Maxey, and Team USA Stripes, which boasts NBA veterans including Kevin Durant, LeBron James, and Kawhi Leonard. The international talent will come together as Team World, showcasing players from outside the United States.
To ensure balanced team compositions, some intriguing decisions were made in the team selections. Notably, Karl-Anthony Towns, who has roots in New Jersey but represents the Dominican Republic, will compete for Team World, despite eligibility for the USA teams. Similarly, Norman Powell, initially designated for USA Stripes, will now join Team World in place of the injured Giannis Antetokounmpo, reflecting his heritage with the Jamaican national team.
The tournament will kick off with Team USA Stars facing off against Team World in the opening game. The victor will advance to play against USA Stripes in the second match, while the losing team from the first game will have another chance to compete against the veterans in Game 3. Following these initial contests, the two teams with the best records will meet in the final match to determine the champion. In case of a three-way tie, point differential will be the deciding factor for advancement.
The action kicks off at 5 p.m. EST, broadcast live on NBC and Peacock. Players from the winning team will each receive a prize of $125,000, while those on the second-place team will take home $50,000, and third-place participants will earn $25,000. With fresh excitement about the tournament format and a mix of seasoned veterans alongside emerging talent, the 2026 NBA All-Star Game promises to be a memorable showcase of basketball excellence.