It is time for money ball racks and rapid-fire heat checks, hoopers leaping over other hoopers in pursuit of a perfect 50. It’s time to debate about the format and indulge in the pageantry. It’s even “Dame Time,” apparently.
NBA All-Star Saturday returns to our screens, live from the sparkling new Intuit Dome in southwest Los Angeles County. Damian Lillard makes a surprise check-in for the 3-point contest, before the cross-generational Shooting Stars Challenge and the aerial dunk showcase. These three successive events are balled into one broadcast. Here’s what to expect and where to watch it.
How to watch NBA All-Star Saturday
- Venue: Intuit Dome — Inglewood, Calif.
- Time: 5 p.m. ET, Saturday
- TV: NBC
- Streaming: Peacock
- Watching in person? Get tickets on StubHub.
NBC is free over the air.
Saturday’s action is called by Noah Eagle on play-by-play, with Reggie Miller and Jamal Crawford by his side in the booth. Miller played in the All-Star Game five times across his Hall of Fame career. Crawford never made the midseason festivities, but he did win three Sixth Man of the Year trophies.
3-point contest
When it starts: At 5 p.m. ET, earlier than in years past because of NBC’s Winter Olympics coverage.
The rules: Its rules are straightforward. The players shoot 3s, lots of them, across set spots and a 70-second clock. There are five racks of five balls lined along the perimeter. Most of those racks have four regulation balls, worth one point, and a multicolored money ball that’s worth two. A special rack has all money balls, and players choose where along the arc that rack goes.
There are also two even-more-special money balls placed six feet behind the 3-point line. Those blue ones are worth three points, and they’re stationed on “From the Logo” pedestal holders.
The three highest-scoring players will advance to the championship round.
The participants:
- Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns)
- Kon Knueppel (Charlotte Hornets)
- Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers)
- Tyrese Maxey (Philadelphia 76ers)
- Donovan Mitchell (Cleveland Cavaliers)
- Jamal Murray (Denver Nuggets)
- Bobby Portis Jr. (Milwaukee Bucks)
- Norman Powell (Miami Heat)
The viewership will lock in on Lillard, who won this competition in 2023 and 2024. Lillard is out for the season as he recovers from a torn Achilles. Nevertheless, the prolific bucket-getter will pop treys as fast as he can. The other participant with a prior win is Booker, who took the crown in 2018.
Mitchell leads everyone in this field in made 3s per game with 3.6 (on 37.6 percent shooting), good for third overall in the NBA this season. He’s followed by Knueppel at 3.4 (43.1 percent), then Maxey at 3.3 (37.9 percent). Last year’s winner, Tyler Herro, is on the shelf as he deals with several injuries.
Most 3-point contest wins: Larry Bird and Craig Hodges have three each, and both did it in three-peat fashion. Bird won the inaugural event in 1986, then defended his title twice. Hodges’ hat trick was from 1990-92.
Shooting Stars
When it starts: This second event starts once the 3-point contest is wrapped up.
The rules: Four three-man teams take a series of jumpers around the court, and like the 3-point contest, each round lasts 70 seconds. The top two finishers then compete in a final round.
The participants:
- Team All-Star: Scottie Barnes (Toronto Raptors), Chet Holmgren (Oklahoma City Thunder) and Richard Hamilton
- Team Cameron: Jalen Johnson (Atlanta Hawks), Kon Knueppel (Charlotte Hornets) and Corey Maggette
- Team Harper: Dylan Harper (San Antonio Spurs), Ron Harper Jr. (Boston Celtics) and Ron Harper Sr.
- Team Knicks: Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks), Karl-Anthony Towns (New York Knicks) and Allan Houston
Here, trios are formed around themes and across eras, with a pair of current players and one retiree. Team All-Star is … well, they’re All-Stars. Team Cameron reps the Duke Blue Devils. Team Harper is a father-son affair. Team Knicks sources its power from midtown Manhattan.
Shooting Stars history: The last Shooting Stars exhibition was 11 years ago — Chris Bosh, Dominique Wilkins and three-time WNBA champion Swin Cash won in 2015. This year, the Shooting Stars event replaces the NBA Skills Challenge.
Slam dunk contest
When it starts: We make our way to the third and final event of All-Star Saturday, to commence once the first two finish.
The rules: Each player gets two first-round dunks, and the two high scorers will attempt two additional dunks for the final round. The 2026 judges table is loaded with former champions: Dominique Wilkins (1985, 1990), Brent Barry (1996), Dwight Howard (2008) and Nate Robinson (2006, 2009-10).
The panel is rounded out by a fifth celebrity judge, called the “NBA ID Member Rep.” This is basically a fan vote, as the delegate will put in the combined results of registered NBA.com users. That celebrity judge will be comedian Druski, basketball trainer Lethal Shooter or Tyler Toney from Dude Perfect.
The participants:
- Carter Bryant (San Antonio Spurs)
- Jaxson Hayes (Los Angeles Lakers)
- Keshad Johnson (Miami Heat)
- Jase Richardson (Orlando Magic)
Oh, the props. In years past, dunkers have used everything from blindfolds and baked goods to twirling mascots and a Kia Optima. The 2026 contest is more of an indie movie, though. Its four participants have modest NBA profiles. That doesn’t mean the contest is done for — it just asks for creativity and commitment from its dunkers.
The 7-foot Hayes backs up Deandre Ayton in purple and gold. Johnson was just recalled from the G League to the Heat on Wednesday. Jase Richardson, son of two-time slam dunk champ Jason, averages about 12 minutes per game with the Magic bench mob.
And Bryant, the 14th pick in the 2025 draft, does most of his dunking in pregame warmups. To be fair … that dunking looks awesome:
Carter Bryant takes flight in the @ATT Slam Dunk Contest at NBA All-Star, a moment fans everywhere can experience together because AT&T connects you on and off the court. pic.twitter.com/fNZJ6lzyav
— NBA (@NBA) February 11, 2026
Most slam dunk contest wins: Nate Robinson and Mac McClung are tied with three. The 5-foot-9 Robinson had ridiculous hops and once blocked Yao Ming. His all-green “kryptonite” dunk over Dwight Howard became instant lore. McClung is the defending three-time champ (2023-25), but the G League guard has declined a fourth go. He earned props from Dr. J himself after his first breakthrough.
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