Fans that weren’t able to watch the 2026 All-Star Game missed out.
The 2026 NBA All-Star Game Was A Smashing Success
Having moved away from the traditional interconference (East vs. West) format, the 2026 All-Star Game pitted players that claim the U.S. as their nationality against the best players from other countries (USA vs. World). This may not have been quite apparent with Miami Heat wing Norman Powell and New York Knicks big Karl-Anthony Towns on Team World, both of them having been born in the United States. Furthermore, the USA’s cohort was split into two factions, Team Stars and Team Stripes.
However, with the U.S. All-Stars far outnumbering their foreign counterparts, splitting them into two teams created a roster balance and allowed for a round-robin tournament. It also created an informal competition between the NBA’s established luminaries and the up-and-coming generation. To that point, Team Stars only featured one player over the age of 25 in Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, a 29-year-old. Conversely, Team Stripes didn’t have one player under the age of 28.
USA vs. World Exactly What People Hoped It Would Be
Prior to the All-Star Game tournament, there was still doubt about whether these changes would have a significant impact. If San Antonio Spurs forward-center Victor Wembanyama didn’t keep his word about setting the tone, maybe they wouldn’t have. Nevertheless, the NBA’s consumers were just treated to the most entertaining All-Star Game(s) that they’ve seen in years.
“It’s the game we love. … Being competitive is the least I can do.”
Wemby is all in on making the All-Star Game competitive 🔥 pic.twitter.com/msrwnQ7JkN
— ESPN (@espn) February 16, 2026
Even during the game, their excitement across social media was palpable.
Wemby and Scottie Barnes just brought contagious defense and effort to the all-star game. I am moved
— Finn Kuehl (@finleykuehl) February 15, 2026
In the end, it was Team Stars that came way victorious rather than Wembanyama’s Team World roster though.
Team World Winless, Team Stripes Loses Steam
Actually, Team World didn’t come away with a single win, Team Stars and Team Stripes beating them back-to-back. For those that believed that the rest of the globe had caught up to the American talents, it was a bitter night. Apparently, Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic and Los Angeles Lakers point guard Luka Doncic didn’t get Wembanyama’s memo about competitiveness.
Two of the NBA’s most popular foreign players, they combined for two points, two rebounds and two assists in their first matchup. In their second game, they were both DNP-CDs (Coach’s Decision). Considering some of the comments that he’s made, the person who may have been happiest about that is Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant.
Ironically, while Durant was right about Jokic and Doncic not playing hard in the All-Star Game, others were right about his team. Though Team Stripes brought the fire in their first outing against Team Stars, it was night and day from their rematch. Facing Team Stars in the All-Star Championship Game, they were dog-walked 47-21. It was the first game of the night with more than a +/-3 point differential. Durant, Lakers forward LeBron James, and Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard combined for six points.
The Last Word on the 2026 NBA All-Star Game
In the end, Team Stars won the All-Star Game Championship, their juvenescence more of a strength than a weakness. Minnesota Timberwolves wing Anthony Edwards was the runaway winner of the All-Star Game MVP award. On the surface, these are just feathers in their caps. When assessing the state of the NBA, it means much more than that.
For starters, several players that headlined Team Stripes are closer to retirement than they are their prime. If they had actually won the All-Star Game tournament, it would have been a bit worrying. With that in mind, the league’s upcoming leaders coming away victorious is a lot like a son beating his father in one-on-one. It doesn’t mean that they’re ready to be the man of the house. However, it says that the future is in good hands.
Furthermore, so far as the next face of the league is concerned, there are those that believe it should be an American. Frankly, this is partly due to patriotism and nationalism. Yet, the fact that basketball was created in North America and the NBA is an American-league is also a factor. With that being said, though Wembanyama is a Frenchman, he’s a rarefied talent with maturity beyond his years. That allows him to step into James’s shoes in a way no current American player can. Nevertheless, Edwards’s precociousness and personality should keep him out of Wembanyama’s shadow. As he matures as a man and human, he’ll be an even louder voice in that conversation.
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