Predicting 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend Event Winners
- Joel Piton
- 1 hour ago
- 7 min read
by Joel Piton
Sportz Nation - 2/13/2026
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 to prove, or your favorite celebrity redeeming his basketball reputation, or just the league trying to restore credibility to the weekend itself.
Some fans are excited. Others are skeptical. But one thing is certain: with this much packed into a single weekend, something memorable is bound to happen—for better or worse.
Let’s break down the main events and predict who wins what.
Celebrity Game
Team Antetokounmpo — Cafu · Jenna Bandy · Shams Charania · Tacko Fall · Rome Flynn · Glorilla · Keegan-Michael Key · Jeremy Lin · Rick Schnall · Amon-Ra St. Brown · Dylan Wang
Team Brickley — Keenan Allen · Badshah · Andre De Grasse · Mat Ishbia · Cody Jones · Simu Liu · Mustard · Adrien Nunez · Taylor Frankie Paul · Nicolas Vansteenberghe · Jason "White Chocolate" Williams
Prediction — Team Antetokounmpo
As with every All-Star Weekend, the festivities tip off with the Celebrity Game—a chaotic mix of actors, musicians, influencers, and former pros lacing up for bragging rights. This year, I’m rolling with Team Antetokounmpo. Coached by three of the Antetokounmpo brothers, the roster has a clear edge in actual basketball pedigree. Reigning Celebrity Game MVP Rome Flynn returns, along with 7-foot-6 Tacko Fall and former NBA guard Jeremy Lin. Add in an elite shooter like Jenna Bandy, experienced competitor Dylan Wang, and even Shams Charania—who apparently has been in the lab between trade deadline bombs—and this team simply has too much size and structure.
No disrespect to the opposing squad, led by trainers Lethal Shooter and Chris Brickley. They’ve got flair and experience, and seeing a 50-year-old Jason Williams back on the court will be fun to watch. But when it comes down to execution, length, and actual hoopers on the basketball court, this matchup doesn’t feel particularly close.
Rising Stars Challenge
Team Melo — Stephon Castle · Jeremiah Fears · Donovan Clingan · Reed Sheppard · Collin Murray-Boyles · Dylan Harper
Team T-Mac — Tre Johnson · Kon Knueppel · Zaccharie Risacher · Alex Sarr · Cam Spencer · Jaylon Tyson · Kel'el Ware ·
Team Vince — Matas Buzelis · Cedric Coward · Egor Dëmin · V.J. Edgecombe · Kyshawn George · Derik Queen · Jaylen Wells
Team Austin — Sean East II · Yang Hansen · Ron Harper Jr. · Alijah Martin · Mac McClung · Tristen Newton · Yanic Konan Niederhäuser
Prediction — Team Vince
With Team Melo taking a major hit losing Cooper Flagg to injury, the balance of power shifted quickly. And because of that, I’m leaning toward Team Vince. This roster has the ideal blend of explosive rookies and budding sophomores. VJ Edgecombe and Kyshawn George can fill it up in a blur. Record-breaking Nets rookie Egor Demin brings three-point range that can punish the opposition. And both Matas Buzelis and Cedric Coward have shown they’re more than capable of taking over stretches offensively.
At minimum, Team Vince feels like a lock to reach the finals. That said, Team Melo shouldn’t be dismissed entirely. Ace Bailey and Jeremiah Fears are capable of swinging momentum, and they're also packing last years MVP in Stephon Castle. But without Flagg, the margin feels wider than it should be. In a showcase built on pace and scoring bursts, Team Vince simply has too many weapons.
Three Point Contest
Participants — Devin Booker · Kon Knueppel · Damian Lillard · Tyrese Maxey · Donovan Mitchell · Jamal Murray · Bobby Portis · Norman Powell
Prediction — Norman Powell
The tricky part about this is that most of these guys are elite in-game shooters—the kind who punish you off movement, off screens, and off the dribble. But the three-point contest is different and more so about rhythm and repetition. It’s stand-still mechanics under pressure. Kon Knueppel absolutely has the stroke to win it, but as a rookie, he could fold under pressure. Devin Booker has been here before and come up short. Damian Lillard, stepping out for one night despite missing the entire season with injury, would deliver an all-time storyline if he pulled it off—but that would require immediate comfort being in front of an audience.
For me, this comes down to Bobby Portis or Norman Powell. Portis has the statistical argument as one of the league’s most efficient shooters, but Powell checks every box: 40-percent accuracy, prior contest experience, and one of the cleanest, most repeatable set shots in the field. I’m giving it to Norman Powell. It might not be the most notable pick, but in his first All-Star appearance, expect him to make the most of the weekend.
Slam Dunk Contest
Participants — Carter Bryant · Jackson Hayes · Keshad Johnson · Jase Richardson
Prediction — Keshad Johnson
This was the toughest event to call. Carter Bryant’s Arizona highlight reel is absurd. Jase Richardson will undoubtedly try to honor his father’s legacy with something memorable. And Jackson Hayes, at seven feet tall with sneaky bounce, brings a combo of size and that always pairs well on this stage. But I’m rolling with Keshad Johnson.
Dunking isn’t just part of his game—it is his identity. He’s become a fan favorite in Miami for routinely delivering some of the most violent, creative finishes we’ve seen this season. And his Summer League poster? Still one of the most jaw-dropping dunks I've seen. When he takes off, it feels different. With the spotlight brightest and expectations high, I don’t see him fumbling the moment. The only possible obstacle would be judge hesitation over crowning a non-household name. But let’s be honest, that ship has sailed long ago. This feels like Keshad’s stage. And if he lands his best stuff cleanly, it’s his trophy to lose.
Shooting Stars Challenge
Team All-Star — Chet Holmgren · Scottie Barnes · Richard "Rip" Hamilton
Team Knicks — Karl-Anthony Towns · Jalen Brunson · Allan Houston
Team Harper — Dylan Harper · Ron Harper Sr. · Ron Harper Jr.
Team Cameron — Kon Knueppel · Jalen Johnson · Corey Maggette
Prediction — Team Knicks
The NBA revealed a new format for the 2026 edition of the Shooting Stars Challenge. Four teams consisting of two current NBA players and one NBA legend, each have one minute and ten seconds to score points while rotating through seven designated shooting locations around the court. It's gonna come down to set shooting, fundamentals, and who's still got it. And because it's the "Shooting" Stars challenge (shooting is in the name for a reason), I'm going with the squad that possesses the best shooters, and that would be Team Knicks. Scottie Barnes and Chet can shoot, but aren't exactly sharpshooters and I don't see them getting carried by a 47-year-old Rip Hamilton. Team Cameron's close, but I just don't see them beating two sharpshooting All-Stars and a shoot-first legend in Allan Houston.
All-Star Game
USA Stars — Cade Cunningham · Tyrese Maxey · Scottie Barnes · Devin Booker · Jalen Duren · Anthony Edwards · Chet Holmgren · Anthony Edwards
USA Stripes — Jaylen Brown · Jaylen Brunson · Kevin Durant · Brandon Ingram · LeBron James · Kawhi Leonard · Donovan Mitchell · Norman Powell
Team World — De'Aaron Fox · Luka Doncic · Nikola Jokic · Victor Wembanyama · Deni Avdija · Jamal Murray · Alperen Sengün · Pascal Siakam · Karl-Anthony Towns
Prediction — Team World
With Giannis gone, this team won't pack the same punch but I still think they can take home the W. The league's leading scorer in Luka Doncic, the best defender on the planet in Wembanyama, the league's number one MVP candidate in Nikola Jokic, and lengthy scoring bigs across the board in Towns, Sengun and Siakam, they have everything they need with balance. This squad is ridiculously strong, and just might silence the World vs. USA talent conversation once and for all. I also have USA Stripes as the runner-ups over the USA Stars by a hair, despite them not having any bigs. If Team Stripes had a center, they'd give Team World a real struggle, but with KD in the paint and just pure offense I think they're at a disadvantage. USA Stars will try and run their offense through Maxey, Booker, and Anthony Edwards but I wonder if the Stars as a whole have the same competitive edge. This will come down to who wants it more and I think Team World has something to prove.
These could be bold takes, but All-Star Weekend has always been unpredictable, and that’s exactly what makes it compelling. On paper, these picks feel solid—the matchups make sense, and the talent is there. But if history has taught us anything, it’s that the unexpected tends to steal the spotlight (which is why I'll double-down on Powell). A breakout performance, a controversial voting result—it only takes one thing to flip the narrative.
So will these predictions hold up? Or will they be completely off this weekend? Are you excited for what’s ahead? Do you think this new format and revived events can push All-Star Weekend back into legendary territory? Or will it fall short of the hype once again? We’re about to find out. And one way or another, the basketball world will be watching.
Get ready folks, All-Star festivities tip off tonight February 13th at 7 PM (ET) 🚨 Can't catch 'em? Stay tuned to Sportz Nation for your sports updates on all things basketball.
Thanks for reading!
-Joel Piton
(@jpiton7)