by Joel Piton Sportz Nation - 2/13/2026 Photo: Robert Kim/Getty Injuries. Snubs. A reworked All-Star Game format. The resurrection of events from years prior. This isn’t your typical NBA All-Star Weekend—it’s one of the most polarizing editions the league has rolled out in years. If you're an NBA fan, this year the unpredictability alone forces you to watch. And what's more, every event has something you'll want to see, whether it's a player who feels like he has something t

by Joel Piton Sportz Nation - 2/10/2026 Photo: Nathaniel Butler/Getty Once upon a time, the NBA Slam Dunk Contest was must-see television. Superstars lined up to put their reputations on the line, and a single dunk could cement a player’s place in basketball history. From Dominique Wilkins to Vince Carter, the contest was where athleticism met artistry, and the entire basketball world stopped to watch. Fast forward to today, and the perception couldn’t be more different. The

The NBA has spent the last few years searching for a way to revive the All-Star Game by making it competitive, meaningful and worth tuning in to for both fans and players. They may have cracked the code this season with a new round-robin tournament format, pitting U.S.-born players against international stars in a three-on-three series, adding real stakes and a fresh edge to the event. It also reignites the skill debate between U.S. born and international players: the last Am