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From the first minutes of action, the NBA All-Star tournament seemed to be a roaring success. Defense was at a premium. The short 12-minute mini-game format made sure that each contest would be close. The stars came to play, and everybody seemed to love it.
The first contest went to overtime, where Scottie Barnes came through for Team Stars. And in the second battle, De’Aaron Fox was able to knock one through at the horn. Following that, Kawhi Leonard dropped 31 points on only three misses.
From LeBron James logo threes to Victor Wembanyama super swats, this tournament was able to provide the fans what they have been missing. Competitive play amongst the game’s best players, that hasn’t been seen in the All-Star Game since 2020.
Time to dive a little deeper. Read on for three reasons why this game was considered a success, and its format should be brought back.
De’Aaron Fox, Kawhi Leonard, Help Bring All-Star Game Back
The expectations for the 2026 All-Star Game were just that it would be better than the games from years past. The team format was implemented starting last year, though the World vs. USA players was new. It was clear pretty quickly that this one would be fantastic.
De’Aaron Fox hit a buzzer-beater. Kawhi Leonard, as mentioned, came through clutch. 31 points on 11-14 FG. The stars of today were duking it out with the stars of tomorrow. What more could the fans have possibly asked for?
2025 did provide legitimate competition over the weekend. But now, this game is proving to be the main event many have been wanting it to be. Takeaway one, plain and simple, is that players are competing like they have something to prove. This hasn’t been the case for a number of years.
LeBron James, at 41 years of age, was moving like it was a playoff game. If that in and of itself isn’t telling, well, that’s it then.
The final game was a blowout, and Team Stars came away with the victory. But takeaway two is that down-to-the-wire basketball gets everybody out of their seat. Three out of four games coming down to the last shot proved to be must-see TV.
It was unfortunate that players like Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic could only log limited minutes. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Stephen Curry, along with Giannis Antetokounmpo were unable to participate in the event.
There was no lack of highlights or Anthony Edwards flare. As the saying goes… “Big time players, make big time plays.”
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The Focus Was on the Game
It wasn’t long ago that a Kevin Hart sideshow took over the primary conversation at the NBA All-Star Game. The 2026 tournament established that the play would be the thing people talked the most about. And even with the earlier start time (due to Olympics coverage), the level of competition ratcheted up.
The final takeaway is the fact that the league prioritized the game for what it is: The best players in the world going at each other. If adding a 1v1 tournament isn’t in the cards, this is the next best thing that they could do.
Team Stars, filled with the younger of the All-Star selections, were able to outlast the other teams and grab their title.
Let’s see this same format next year, NBA. Run it back.
Zach Weiss Zach Weiss is a sports reporter covering the NBA for Heavy. He also hosts a podcast about the Cleveland Cavaliers, “Across the Cavs,” and serves as a sports broadcaster for various institutions in the Greater NYC Area. He wrote for Knup Sports for six years. More about Zach Weiss
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