The NBA All-Star Game has been a staple for 75 years, yet the league is still evolving its approach to the event. This year marks a notable change: for the first time, the game will be formatted as a three-team round-robin tournament. The finals will see the top two teams, based on their performance over three 12-minute matches, compete for the championship.
Last year, a similar idea was attempted, albeit with four teams. Now, however, the expectation is that this new format will provide a more engaging experience. The action kicks off tonight at 5 p.m. ET at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.
This time around, a young U.S. Stars team, featuring players like Anthony Edwards and Devin Booker, is set to face an older U.S. Stripes team led by veterans LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard. They will also compete against a World Club that includes stars such as Victor Wembanyama and Luka Doncic.
2026 NBA All-Star Game: What you need to know
- When: February 15, 5 p.m. ET
- Where: Intuit Dome, Inglewood, California
- Channel: NBC
- Streaming: DIRECTV (Free trial available)
Some big names—Stephen Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander—are unable to participate due to injuries.
2026 NBA All-Star Game start time:
The game kicks off today, February 15, at 5 p.m. ET.
How to watch the 2026 NBA All-Star Game for free:
If you’re without cable, consider a live TV streaming service to catch the game. DIRECTV is a solid option, offering a five-day free trial and various plans that include NBC. The MyNews genre pack also features NBC for those looking for more flexibility.
2026 NBA All-Star Game Roster
Team USA Stars
- Scotty Barnes
- Devin Booker
- Cade Cunningham
- Jaylen Duren
- Anthony Edwards
- Chet Holmgren
- Jalen Johnson
- Tyrese Maxey
Team USA Stripes
- Jaylen Brown
- Jalen Brunson
- Kevin Durant
- De’Aaron Fox
- Brandon Ingram
- LeBron James
- Kawhi Leonard
- Donovan Mitchell
- Norman Powell
- Stephen Curry (sidelined due to injury)
Team World
- Deni Avdija
- Luka Doncic
- Nikola Jokic
- Jamal Murray
- Norman Powell
- Alperen Sengun
- Pascal Siakam
- Karl-Anthony Towns
- Victor Wembanyama
- Giannis Antetokounmpo (sidelined due to injury)
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (sidelined due to injury)
How is the NBA All-Star Game played?
This year’s All-Star Game will feature a mini-tournament with four 12-minute games. The structure is as follows:
Game 1: World vs. USA Stars
Game 2: Winner of Game 1 vs. USA Stripes
Game 3: Loser of Game 1 vs. USA Stripes
Game 4: All-Star Championship (Top 2 teams)
If the teams finish tied at 1-1, the scoring difference in the two games will serve as the tiebreaker.
