All Star Game 2026: a new formula for the match
The NBA superstars have been celebrated, once a year, in a game created to put them one against the other, East versus West, since 1951.
The first All Star Game in history was played in Boston, as a simple match where the best players from a Conference challenged the cream of the crop of the other.
At that time, it was much more simple than today, and openly inspired by the baseball All Star Game. In the last 75 years, the All Star game has been played every year, with the sole exception of 1999, when the league lockout forced the commissioner to withhold it.
Through the years, the date became much more than a simple exhibition. Nowadays, it is not just a friendly match anymore, but a true show of skills, glamour and popularity.
For 2026, the event will be held starting February 15. This year, the All Star Game has undergone a significant change in format, which we are about to explain. It is sure to be a great show, and since the best players in the NBA are competing, it is very difficult to predict a possible winner of the tournament.
For those who still want to bet on the event, though, it is possible to exploit the promotions that gaming platforms make available to users every month, such as the latest Paddy Power promo code. This one may come in handy for betting on the 2026 All Star Game, as well as on other basketball matches with uncertain outcomes, like many of the league’s best games are.
What’s new for the 2026 All Star Game?
The Intuit Dome, home of the Los Angeles Clippers, will host the 2026 All Star Game, the first with three teams: one composed by Eastern Conference players; the second made up with stars playing in the West and the third one with players from the rest of the world. The NBA All Star Game won’t be only an NBA matter anymore. The idea is to make it the most important celebration of basketball in the whole world.
The three teams will compete in a round-robin mini tournament and the two best teams will face-off in the last match, the one who will assign the trophy. The games will last 12 minutes each and there won’t be role limitations for the players on the court. The American players called for the game will be 24, as usual, 12 for each conference.
The 5 starting players will be decided by fans’ votes (50% of the starting five); players’ votes (25%) and media decisions. The other 7 will be chosen by the head coaches. In case of a tie during the round-robin tournament, the number of baskets will decide the winner.
READ MORE: 2026 NBA All-Stars: Why the starters have been selected and who missed out
The superstars with most votes
NBA fans can already vote for their favourite players. Right now, there are two superstars leading the polls: for the West Luka Doncic is pretty much already sure of his participation, the Los Angeles Lakers star will certainly be part of the fray. For the East the Greek Freak, Giannis Antetokounmpo, is the most voted and will be in the starting five for his team.
This is not surprising at all. Doncic and Giannis have been fans’ favourites for a long time and they are two icons. We are not only talking about the relevance for their franchises, but also about their overall popularity in the league. Basketball fans that support other teams are equally fascinated by these two future Hall of Famers and are not capable of booing them every time they play against their favourite team. That’s the sheer beauty of sports: some athletes transcend jerseys and are simply too valuable for anyone, no matter which franchise they support.
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