All-Star Saturday Serves Up Dunks, Deep Balls and Rising Stars Ahead of All-Star Game 2026
All-Star Saturday arrives at the Intuit Dome with a stacked slate of events beginning at 5 ET, spotlighting the long-range barrage of the 3-Point Contest, the chemistry-driven Shooting Stars competition and a Slam Dunk contest that has produced some of basketball’s most indelible moments. The weekend’s festivities also include a fast-paced Rising Stars format that crowned Edgecombe MVP, and the whole weekend builds toward all star game 2026 on Sunday at 5 ET with a new U. S. vs. World setup.
Saturday night’s showpieces: what to expect
The evening’s sequence is simple and electric: shooters first, teams next and then the high-flying finale. The 3-Point Contest will gather eight sharpshooters, each with his own motivation to walk away with the trophy. Expect quick rhythm, contests of nerves and a few late-game theatrics as competitors chase the clock and the bonus rack.
The Shooting Stars event rewards connection. Teammates, former classmates and family pairings will try to execute precise, timed shots across the court. The format leans into chemistry as much as raw shooting skill; teams that know each other’s tendencies will gain the edge when transition shots and half-court timing come into play.
The Slam Dunk contest remains All-Star Saturday’s emotional crescendo. This year’s field is composed entirely of first-time participants, setting the stage for a new name to join the contest’s storied history. There’s a throughline to the night’s narratives: one entrant grew up reliving a parent’s legendary performance in the same contest, and now gets a chance to carve his own legacy. Expect creative props, high degree-of-difficulty attempts and judges weighing both flair and execution.
Rising Stars, retirements and storylines shaping Sunday
The weekend’s younger-tier competition delivered in its own right. Edgecombe captured Rising Stars MVP honors after a performance that included multiple winners and a decisive takeover that pushed his team to the title. That game serves as a reminder that while All-Star Weekend celebrates established stars, it’s also a launch pad for the next wave of marquee performers.
Off the court, the weekend’s narrative arc has been altered by a major career decision from one of the game’s longtime standouts: a 12-time All-Star and one of the all-time leaders in both assists and steals has stepped away after 21 seasons. That retirement adds emotional context to the weekend and gives teammates, opponents and fans one more moment to reflect on a career packed with peak playmaking and long-running excellence.
Looking ahead to Sunday, the new U. S. vs. World format injects fresh stakes into the All-Star Game itself. Players and coaches will be parsing rotations, matchup advantages and the balance between competitive edge and entertaining spectacle. For viewers, the change promises a different dynamic from recent years—national pride and global representation will be on display alongside highlight-reel offense.
All-Star Saturday’s slate begins after midday media activities and a late-afternoon news conference from the league office; the competitive events kick off at 5 ET. For fans, the weekend is a compact festival of skill showcases, nostalgia and the kind of spontaneous moments that make All-Star Weekend must-see television. Whether it’s a buzzer-beating deep ball, a perfectly timed team connection or a jaw-dropping dunk that puts a new name into the conversation, the night is built for memorable headlines.
As the league approaches the culminating all star game 2026, expect storylines to shift quickly—players who arrive electric can turn Saturday’s showcases into Sunday momentum, and surprises from the weekend could reframe narratives for the season’s second half.
