The 2026 NBA All-Star Game will tip off at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday, Feb. 15, from the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, marking the first All-Star Game hosted in the Clippers’ new arena. The league’s 75th All-Star showcase also ushers in a major change, debuting a U.S. vs. World format designed to highlight both domestic talent and the NBA’s global reach.
Announced by the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association, the revamped format features three teams, two Team USA squads and one international Team World competing in a round-robin tournament. The event will consist of four 12-minute games, with each roster carrying a minimum of eight players, blending competition, star power, and international flavor.
College Basketball’s Continued Impact
Even as the NBA becomes increasingly global, college basketball remains a critical pipeline for elite talent. Kentucky leads all programs with five former Wildcats selected, further cementing its reputation as one of the sport’s premier NBA feeders.
Several All-Stars were excluded from the college breakdown. LeBron James entered the league directly out of high school, while international standouts Giannis Antetokounmpo, Victor Wembanyama, Luka Dončić, Nikola Jokić, and Deni Avdija were drafted from overseas leagues.
Below is a closer look at where the 2026 All-Stars developed at the collegiate level.
Team USA Stars
Team USA Stars features a blend of elite young talent and rising franchise cornerstones, many of whom made immediate impacts during short but memorable college careers.
Cade Cunningham — Oklahoma State
Cunningham spent one dominant season at Oklahoma State, leading the Cowboys to a 19–8 record and a second-round appearance in the 2021 NCAA Tournament. He averaged 20.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists, earning both Big 12 Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year honors.
Chet Holmgren — Gonzaga
Holmgren anchored Gonzaga’s frontcourt during the 2021–22 season, averaging 14.1 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 3.7 blocks per game. His defensive presence helped propel the Bulldogs to the Sweet 16.
Other Team USA Stars include Devin Booker (Kentucky), Anthony Edwards (Georgia), Scottie Barnes (Florida State), Jalen Johnson (Duke), Tyrese Maxey (Kentucky), and Jalen Duren (Memphis).
Team USA Stripes
Team USA Stripes leans heavily on championship experience, veteran leadership, and proven postseason success.
Stephen Curry — Davidson
Before becoming a four-time NBA champion and two-time MVP, Curry authored one of the most iconic Cinderella runs in NCAA Tournament history. In 2008, he carried Davidson to the Elite Eight, lighting up Gonzaga, Georgetown, Wisconsin, and Kansas along the way. As a junior, Curry led the nation in scoring at 28.6 points per game and earned Midwest Regional Most Outstanding Player honors.
Now in his 17th NBA season, Curry is making his 12th All-Star appearance and 11th start, joining a select group of just 17 players in NBA history to reach 12 All-Star selections with a single franchise.
Jalen Brunson — Villanova
Brunson was a cornerstone of Villanova’s national championship teams in 2016 and 2018, averaging 14.4 points, 3.7 assists, and 2.5 rebounds during his collegiate career. In 2018, he captured the Naismith Player of the Year Award, becoming the first Wildcat to do so, and led Villanova past Michigan to clinch the title.
Team USA Stripes also includes Jaylen Brown (California), Kevin Durant (Texas), Kawhi Leonard (San Diego State), Donovan Mitchell (Louisville), and Norman Powell (UCLA).
Team World: Global Stars With College Ties
While Team World reflects the NBA’s international growth, several of its stars refined their games in the U.S. college system.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — Kentucky
Before emerging as the 2025 NBA champion and MVP, Gilgeous-Alexander spent one season at Kentucky, where he won the 2018 SEC Tournament and scored 61 points across three NCAA Tournament games.
Karl-Anthony Towns — Kentucky
Towns played a pivotal role in Kentucky’s dominant 38–1 season in 2015, with the Wildcats’ lone loss coming against Wisconsin in the Final Four.
They are joined by Jamal Murray (Kentucky) and Pascal Siakam (New Mexico State).
A Historic Stage for a Milestone Event
The 2026 All-Star Game adds Inglewood, California, to a long list of host cities dating back to 1951. California has played a central role in All-Star history, hosting the event across Los Angeles, Oakland, San Francisco, and now Inglewood.
As the NBA celebrates its 75th All-Star Game, the combination of a new competitive format, elite college pedigrees, and global star power sets the stage for one of the most anticipated All-Star weekends in league history.
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