NBA All-Star Game 2026: The World Can't Beat the United States

Team Stars was crowned champion of the All-Star Game after defeating Team Stripes 47-21 in the final of the mini-tournament held at the Intuit Dome. This new format altered the event structure once again, preventing the World team — with a strong European presence — from clinching the title.

The NBA introduced its fourth system in four years, pitting two teams of American players, Stars and Stripes, against a Team World representing the rest of the planet. The aim was to elevate competitiveness in an Olympic year and add a national rivalry component. However, the international team fell short of claiming the trophy.

A Path Determined by Short Duels

The tournament featured 12-minute mini-games in a round-robin format before the final. Stripes, a slightly older team, defeated Stars in the second match with a buzzer-beater three-pointer by De'Aaron Fox. Prior to that, Scottie Barnes secured a victory for Stars against Team World (37-36) with a game-winning three-pointer in overtime after Anthony Edwards forced the extra period.

In the third duel, Kawhi Leonard delivered an outstanding performance with 31 points and sealed the game (48-45) with a three-pointer 3.5 seconds remaining. Nevertheless, that effort seemed to take a toll in the final, where Stripes ran out of steam.

Edwards, Decisive and MVP

In the championship match, Team Stars set the pace from the beginning and closed out the game without late drama. Anthony Edwards, the standout player of the Minnesota Timberwolves, contributed eight points in the final and was named the event's Most Valuable Player. He had already scored the three-pointer that tied the game in the first match before overtime.

"We chose to compete today and emerged victorious," Edwards stated upon receiving the award.

Tyrese Maxey led Stars in scoring in the final with nine points, while Leonard, after his previous exhibition, only managed one point in the decisive clash.

Wembanyama Sets the Competitive Tone

Victor Wembanyama led Team World and was instrumental in raising the intensity level of the tournament. He topped his team in scoring in both appearances, with 14 points in the opener and 19 in the third game, yet the international squad could not translate that performance into claiming the title.

Commissioner Adam Silver publicly acknowledged the players' competitive effort during the trophy ceremony, in an edition that demonstrated a higher level of play than in recent years.

Special Atmosphere at Intuit Dome

The event featured several off-court highlights. John Tesh performed "Roundball Rock" live, the iconic NBA theme on NBC from the '90s, coinciding with the league's return to that network. The afternoon broadcast on the West Coast aligned with the nighttime schedule of the Winter Olympics.

Among the attendees was former President Barack Obama, who received an ovation before the show began. With a revamped format, increased intensity, and tight outcomes in the preceding matches, the All-Star event crowned Team Stars as the clear champion and kept the international team trophy-less in this new edition.

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