All-Star Weekend Overview
NBA All-Star Weekend is the mid-season celebration of basketball talent, creativity, and showmanship. The event brings together the league's best players for a three-day showcase that combines competition with entertainment, giving fans a chance to see stars in a more relaxed setting away from the pressures of the playoff race.
The weekend serves multiple purposes beyond entertainment. Rising Stars gives fans a first look at the next generation of talent. Saturday Night competitions create individual moments that become part of the game's lore. And the All-Star Game itself, while low-stakes, produces the kind of high-flying, offense-heavy spectacle that casual fans enjoy.
First-year and second-year players, plus G League Ignite and international prospects, compete in a showcase game. This event is structured with Team USA versus Team World.
The most popular event night of the weekend. Includes the Skills Challenge, Three-Point Contest, and the legendary Slam Dunk Contest. Top players compete for individual hardware.
The main event. The two captains draft rosters from the full pool of All-Stars regardless of conference. The game uses the Elam Ending format for dramatic final-minute action.
How All-Stars Are Selected
The All-Star selection process balances fan engagement with expert evaluation. A player's popularity, performance, and market size all influence outcomes, creating occasional controversy when deserving players are overlooked.
Fans vote online and through NBA apps. The most popular players in major markets typically benefit most from this component.
Current NBA players vote for peers. This component rewards players respected within the league as high-level competitors.
A panel of sportswriters and broadcasters provides an expert perspective on statistical performance and impact.
Team Captain Draft Format
The two players with the most votes in each conference (regardless of position) become team captains. They then draft their All-Star teams from the remaining starters and reserves in a serpentine format, creating cross-conference rivalries and interesting matchups.
Saturday Night Competitions
Perhaps the most iconic event in basketball, the Slam Dunk Contest showcases elite athleticism and creativity. Participants complete two dunks in preliminary rounds and two in the finals, judged by a celebrity panel scoring from 6-10 for each dunk.
Eight players compete in a timed shooting competition from five spots behind the arc. Each rack contains four standard balls worth one point each and one "money ball" worth two points, with a special all-money-ball rack at the end.
A timed obstacle course testing dribbling, passing accuracy, and shooting. The format has evolved over the years, sometimes featuring full teams and positional competition. Players must complete all elements as quickly as possible.
The Elam Ending Format
The NBA introduced the Elam Ending format to the All-Star Game in 2020, and it has significantly improved the quality of fourth-quarter play. Rather than playing a timed final period where teams intentionally foul and run out the clock, the format sets a target score and teams play until one reaches it.
How the Elam Ending Works
- 1With 2 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, the clock is stopped
- 2A target score is set by adding 24 points (in honor of Kobe Bryant) to the leading team's score
- 3The clock is removed from the game
- 4Teams play normal basketball — no intentional fouling, no running out the clock
- 5The first team to reach the target score wins the game
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the NBA All-Star Game 2026?
NBA All-Star Weekend 2026 takes place in February 2026. Friday has the Rising Stars Game, Saturday has skills competitions, and Sunday is the All-Star Game.
How are NBA All-Stars selected?
All-Stars are selected through fan voting (50%), player voting (25%), and media voting (25%). The top vote-getters become starters. Reserves are chosen by head coaches.
What events are at All-Star Weekend?
Friday: Rising Stars Game. Saturday: Skills Challenge, Three-Point Contest, Slam Dunk Contest. Sunday: All-Star Game.
Who captains the All-Star teams?
The players with the most fan votes in each conference become captains. They then draft their teams from all All-Stars in a school-yard format regardless of conference.
What is the Elam Ending format?
Instead of a timed fourth quarter, the Elam Ending sets a target score by adding 24 to the leader's score at the 2-minute mark. The first team to reach the target wins — eliminating clock management and intentional fouling.