• Loading stock data...
Thursday, September 18, 2025
exclusive
Leagues

3 Changes Being Discussed for 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend

Several tweaks are being discussed for next year’s NBA All-Star Weekend on NBC, including an earlier start time and a premium one-on-one tournament. 

Steph Curry
Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

The NBA All-Star Game has come and gone, with another milestone marking the end of Turner Sports’ 40-year domestic partnership with the league.

Its new format, with a four-team tournament, had some positives in the sense that player effort was clearly elevated over the last several years—a low bar to clear, to be sure—but it was marred by endless play stoppages for commercials, Kevin Hart, and Mr. Beast. At one point, Hart eulogized an Inside the NBA that is very much not dead, but rather migrating to ESPN next season while still being produced by TNT. 

Sources who were in the Bay Area this weekend—in hotel lobbies and at cocktail parties and sponsorship events—say several changes for the weekend are being discussed for next year even before Sunday’s game tipped off. 

An earlier start

NBC has a gauntlet of premium live sports rights in early 2026, including the Super Bowl in the Bay Area, the Winter Olympics in Milan, and NBA All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles. 

NBC and the NBA have discussed starting the NBA All-Star Game at 5 p.m. Eastern next year, sources told Front Office Sports. This makes sense on several levels, both for the network and sports fans at large. Sunday’s All-Star Game started after 8 p.m. and didn’t finish until around 11 on the East Coast. 

Next year’s All-Star game is scheduled in the middle of the Winter Olympics, but Milan is six hours ahead of the U.S. Eastern Time Zone, meaning even a 5 p.m. start would be after that day’s Olympic sports had mostly finished. The 2026 All-Star Game is set for Feb. 15, while the Olympics will be Feb. 6–22.

For the Paris Olympics last year, NBC showed all the marquee events live on NBC and/or the Peacock streaming service, with a news-and-highlights show recapping the day’s events airing in primetime. This program would air after the All-Star Game next year.

A one-on-one tournament

The upstart Unrivaled league recently held a one-on-one tournament, won by cofounder Napheesa Collier for a $200,000 grand prize. One spy told FOS that a $1 million prize has been discussed for a one-on-one event at NBA All-Star Weekend.

During pregame media availability, Rachel Nichols asked Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo if he would be interested in competing in a one-on-one event, noting that Kyrie Irving and James Harden had already indicated they’d be up for it. 

“Yeah for sure,” Antetokounmpo said. “If I had the chance to play one-on-one with anybody, I’d love to do it. Anything that can make the weekend more exciting, more fun, for the viewers and for the fans and for the players, I would love to participate.” 

Antetokounmpo emphasized that this tournament would put an emphasis on defense and could highlight fascinating stylistic mismatches like Irving vs. Victor Wembanyama—who could get stops? Antetokounmpo stopped short of “promising” that he’d play, but reiterated his interest. 

During his press conference, Antetokounmpo also proposed a USA vs. World format for the All-Star Game—a variation of the idea that the NHL had great success with this past weekend—where the weekend rotates between domestic and international locations. Responding to a FOS tweet summarizing his idea, Antetokounmpo wrote, “2027 All star game should be in Rio de Janeiro or in a city in China!” (2027 is set for Phoenix, but 2028 is still up for grabs.)

Stars in Dunk Contest

For years, everyone involved with the NBA has been trying to figure out a way to get the league’s stars to be willing to participate in the Slam Dunk Contest. With all due respect to Mac McClung, whose performance the last few years has been genuinely captivating, the spectacle used to be a showcase for superstars. Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant are past winners. 

For whatever reason, LeBron James has never wanted to be a part of it, which has in turn led other stars to largely avoid the competition. 

One tweet on Saturday night gave NBA fans and insiders alike a glimmer of hope that the event could regain some of its lost cachet. 

“[M]ac might make me decide to dunk,” Grizzlies star Ja Morant wrote during the contest on Saturday night. Morant also asked Aaron Gordon and past winner Zach LaVine to join him in the competition. 

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

The South Milwaukee Planet Fitness at 2901 S. Chicago Ave. will relocate to Oak Creek in summer.

‘People Want to Go to the Gym’: Why Fitness M&A Is Surging..

The fitness and gym industry has had strong deal activity in the first half of the year.

$3.8 Billion Commanders Stadium Deal Approved Despite Late Drama

A decisive final vote on the stadium followed some last-minute snags.

Silver: My Comments About Basketball Highlights Were ‘Misconstrued’

The NBA commissioner spoke at the Front Office Sports Tuned in summit.

Featured Today

Premier Lacrosse League

‘The Circus Is Coming to Town’: Why Upstart Leagues Start on Tour

In their ambitious plans, a traveling schedule is only temporary.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 19: A detailed view of the MLB Debut patch on the jersey of Patrick Monteverde #44 of the Miami Marlins prior to game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on April 19, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
September 13, 2025

The Tiny Jersey Patch at the Center of the MLB Rookie Card..

Autographed cards containing a piece of baseball history have upended the market.
September 11, 2025

Eagles-Chiefs Super Bowl Rematch Could Set More NFL Ratings Records

Fox will nationally televise Sunday afternoon’s matchup.
September 10, 2025

ESPN’s ‘MNF’ Ratings Up 8% As NFL Surges to Strong Start

ESPN posts its second-best Week 1 “Monday Night Football” audience.

Adam Silver Walks Back Claim He’d Never Heard of Aspiration

Adam Silver spoke at the Front Office Sports Tuned In summit.
Sep 14, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Aces guard Jewell Loyd (24) gestures to a teammate after scoring against the Seattle Storm in the first quarter during game one of round one for the 2025 WNBA Playoffs at Michelob Ultra Arena.
September 15, 2025

Aces Surge From Collapse to Contention With Dynasty at Stake

The turnaround started after a 53-point loss to the Minnesota Lynx.
Sep 14, 2025; Bridgeview, Illinois, USA; Portland Thorns FC midfielder Olivia Moultrie (13) kicks the ball past Chicago Stars FC defender Sam Staab (3) during the second half of a match at SeatGeek Stadium.
September 16, 2025

NWSL Beefs Up Media Deal With More CBS, ESPN, Adds Victory+

The NWSL has been locked into its existing deal since last year.
Sponsored

How World Series Champ Dexter Fowler Became a Premier League Team Owner

Dexter Fowler discusses navigating retirement and embracing new roles as an owner & investor.
September 15, 2025

Tush Push Debate Heats Up in Eagles Win, Ex-NFL Rules Chief Sounds..

The Eagles are continuing to run the quarterback-sneak play.
September 14, 2025

Most NFL Home Teams Opt to Honor Charlie Kirk Before Games

Several NFL teams playing at home on Sunday recognized the late activist. Some did not.
September 14, 2025

Crawford-Alvarez Bout Draws Biggest Crowd in Vegas Boxing History

Record attendance, a big gate, and growing ambitions mark the high-profile bout.
September 14, 2025

Low-Payroll Brewers Buck the Math, Clinch First MLB Playoff Berth

Milwaukee continues to defy its market size and economic constraints.