The National Basketball Association’s (NBA) All-Star Weekend took place from Feb. 13 to Feb. 15, 2026 at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. All-Star Weekend is where the NBA hosts a multitude of games and activities for fans to watch. The weekend featured renowned players, such as Luka Doncic, Victor Wembyanama and many more. Additionally, it offered several other games and activities for fans to enjoy online, such as the three-point contest and dunk contest. The NBA also included a new format for the main game: World vs USA. However, there were complaints by fans about the mundanity of the content. For a very long time, fans have been complaining about the dunk contest, and how monotonous it is. The fans, and even the players, have been waiting for something much more fulfilling and exciting. Nonetheless, the weekend was filled with excitement and had a lively atmosphere. The new format for the main event brought a new look to the weekend, and the three-point contest was surprising to say the least, though, the dunk contest could use a revampant.
The first surprising moment of the weekend was when Damian Lillard, who has been out the entire season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), took part in the three-point contest, and ended up winning it. Other participants included NBA stars Devin Booker, Tyrese Maxey, and Donovan Mitchell, just to name a few. Lillard’s win tied him with the most wins along with Larry Bird and Craig Hodges.
“The three point contest was one of the many highlights of the weekend,” junior Chase Nightengale said.
With the three-point contest marking history, the dunk contest on the other hand was abysmal. Unfortunately, the contest has been this way for many years now, ever since the elite 2016 matchup between Zach LaVine and Aaron Gordon. Participants were slipping and their dunks weren’t thrilling, making the show an eye sore to viewers.This year, Miami Heat’s Keshad Johnson won the contest, but many fans didn’t view it as a contest.
“The dunk contest was something I used to look forward to, but now it’s just horrible,” Nightengale explained.
However, fans weren’t complaining about the main event. This year, the NBA implemented the “USA Vs. World” format, which featured the NBA’s U.S. stars vs. the NBA’s World Stars (outside of the U.S.). Formerly, the game featured the Eastern division vs. the Western division. Since the majority of players are from the U.S., the NBA decided to split team USA into two separate teams: Stars and Stripes. Team World got defeated early on, cultivating the championship game between the Stars and Stripes. The Stars ended up winning the championship, and Timberwolves Guard Anthony Edwards was awarded the MVP.
“This game made up for the dunk contest, and I loved watching Ant (Anthony Edwards),” Nightengale claimed.
Overall, the All-Star Weekend was thrilling, as it brought several engaging activities and segments of entertainment, such as the three-point contest, the celebrity game and much more. Nonetheless, NBA fans definitely want to see an improvement to the dunk contest, thus making the next All-Star Weekend one to anticipate for.
