What time is it?
Time for history to be made.
When the 75th NBA All-Star Game tips at 5 ET on NBC & Peacock, it’ll come with a brand-new format: U.S. vs. The World.
Keep reading for what to know, after Dame Lillard made some 3-Point Contest history of his own last night.
5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀
75th All-Star Game: U.S. vs. World. 3 teams. 3 unique identities. 1 showcase unlike any other.
Doing What They Do Best: Saturday’s scenes rewarded Dame’s long-distance, Brunson’s clutch gene, and Keshad’s high-flying.
Back On Dame Time: Despite missing this season, Lillard wins record-tying 3rd State Farm 3-Point Contest.
Winning Saturday: Keshad Johnson soars through AT&T Slam Dunk; Team Knicks catches fire late.
On The Ground: Joker shtick, aura advice with Shai, and more all-access from All-Star Media Day.
BUT FIRST … ⏰
All-Star Weekend’s main event…
The 75th NBA All-Star Game tips off tonight at Intuit Dome (5 ET, NBC & Peacock | Tap To Watch) with the event’s first U.S. vs. World format, featuring three teams: USA Stars, USA Stripes, and Team World.
Up first, LeBron James, a 22-time All-Star, is scheduled to meet with the media for his All-Star press conference at 2:30 ET.
On Saturday, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver met with the media for his annual All-Star Press Conference.
1. THE 75TH NBA ALL-STAR GAME: U.S. vs. WORLD ON NBC & PEACOCK
In the All-Star Game’s 75-year history, there’s never been one quite like tonight’s (5 ET, NBC & Peacock).
The annual midseason classic enters a new era Sunday, as the league debuts its first U.S. vs. World format:
USA Stars vs. USA Stripes vs. Team World.
Four 12-minute games.
One winner-take-all final to crown the 75th All-Star champion.
- How Does It Work? It’s simple. Each All-Star squad will play the other once in a round-robin.
- Every Bucket Counts: The two teams with the best record will then advance to the All-Star Championship. If all three teams are 1-1, point differential will serve as the first tiebreaker.
- The Finale: The mini-tournament ends with a fourth and final duel – a 12-minute championship to decide who hoists the hardware.
Global Tip-Off: The action opens with a matchup that puts the new format on full display, as USA Stars’ youth and athleticism collide with Team World’s blend of international size and skill.
USA Stars: Comprised of younger American All-Stars, this team is stacked with electric guard play, versatile bigs, and energy made for the bright lights, featuring seven players 25 or younger along with Devin Booker (29) anchoring the lineup.
- Debut Stage: That includes three first-time All-Stars in Jalen Duren, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Johnson.
- Tempo Setters: Four All-Stars will lead the backcourt: Tyrese Maxey, Cade Cunningham, Anthony Edwards, and Booker.
Team World: This international squad is as lengthy as it is talented, led by two of the game’s most unique bigs, Nikola Jokić and Victor Wembanyama.
- Tall & Talented: Alperen Sengun, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Pascal Siakam complete a versatile frontcourt.
- Craft & Creation: The league’s leading scorer, Luka Dončić, paces a backcourt that includes a trio of first-time All-Stars: Jamal Murray, Deni Avdija, and Norman Powell.
USA Stripes: This veteran American All-Stars team is led by players with championship experience, waiting to make their impact in Games 2 and 3.
- The King & KD: LeBron James (22 All-Star selections) and Kevin Durant (16) have combined for 38 All-Star nods, ranking 1st and 3rd in All-Star Game scoring, respectively.
- Proven Pedigree: Three other Stripes have 5+ All-Star selections: Jaylen Brown (5), Donovan Mitchell (7), and Kawhi Leonard (7), who plays in his home building at Intuit Dome.
- Built For This: Rounding out the squad are former Kia Clutch POY winners Jalen Brunson and De’Aaron Fox, along with two-time All-Star Brandon Ingram.
Now, the whole hoops world turns to Los Angeles.
Three teams. Three unique identities. One new format. And 48 minutes of basketball to decide the 75th All-Star champion.
2. SATURDAY’S STRENGTHS: DAME FROM DISTANCE, CLUTCH BRUNSON, KESHAD SOARS
Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images
All-Star Saturday had the complete hero’s journey.
- An OG superstar returning to match 3-Point Contest history.
- A current top-5 scorer coming up clutch in the Kia Shooting Stars event.
- An electric young flyer proving himself among today’s top dunkers as a first-time AT&T Slam Dunk champion.
Ride the rollercoaster that was last night with some favorite highlights…
Dunkers Carter Bryant and Jaxson Hayes were all of us when Dame returned with a Round 1 score of 27 in the State Farm 3-Point Contest.
The shootout’s dramatic finish left Lillard standing atop the podium, while Kon Knueppel and Tyrese Maxey reacted.
Captain Clutch had ice in his veins sinking a logo shot to clinch Kia Shooting Stars for Team Knicks.
Hip-hop icon Ludacris hyped up the Intuit Dome before the AT&T Slam Dunk.
New Dunk Champ Keshad “Showtime” Johnson showcased his highest-scoring slam with pure concentration.
But when co-finalist Bryant countered with the competition’s first 50.0, Hayes reacted perfectly.
It took an in-flight windmill on “Flight 305” to secure the AT&T Slam Dunk title for Johnson.
3. BACK ON DAME TIME: LILLARD WINS RECORD-TYING 3RD 3-POINT CONTEST
Larry Bird. Craig Hodges. Damian Lillard.
Saturday, Dame entered the elite club by winning his third State Farm 3-Point Contest – no small feat.
Lillard was competing on an NBA floor for the first time since the First Round of the 2024-25 Playoffs due to his Achilles injury.
And he showed no signs of rust. | Recap | Full Event
- The Final Shooter: In a Blazers jersey for the first time since 2023, Dame went 4-for-5 on his money rack to score 27 and advance.
- “If there’s anything I can do well right now, it’s shoot the ball,” he stated. “I’ve been rehabbing, I feel great.”
- Dame’s 27 matched Kon Knueppel’s score, making them two of the three finalists alongside Devin Booker (30).
In the Championship Round, shooting second, Lillard set a high bar with a score of 29, putting the pressure on Booker.
- Whose Time? Dame hit his first four final shots, achieving 21-for-27, with 1-for-2 from the logos and 3-for-5 on the money rack.
- Down To The Final Rack: Booker closed in, but Lillard held onto the trophy in a thrilling finish.
- “I was nervous. I was at his mercy,” Lillard said. “But it didn’t fall for him, and this time, it was for me.”
Dame, out for the year, is among those competing in the 3-Point Contest despite not playing in the first half of the season and first to win it. He promised fans, next year, he’ll be back.
- “So now you’ll be back for the second half of the season?” NBATV’s Chris Haynes asked.
- “This is one activity I can currently do with confidence. But I have to keep progressing in my rehab.”
- A Fourth Win For History? “I’m gonna do it again next year,” Dame confirmed.
4. KESHAD JOHNSON’S SOARING SLAM DUNK TITLE, TEAM KNICKS CATCHES FIRE
Heat forward Keshad Johnson took the stage by combining finesse and power.
Johnson Wins AT&T Slam Dunk: The second-year player, nicknamed “Showtime,” acted with precision in an all-Arizona Wildcat final, overwhelming Spurs rookie Carter Bryant with his series of dunks. | Recap | Full Event
- For The Bay: The Oakland native showcased California love by leaping over rap legend E-40 and following it up with a reverse, two-hand windmill.
- Unleashing His Best: Johnson kicked off the Finals with a 49.6 for his best dunk – a between-the-legs reverse slam.
- Overcoming 50.0: Bryant answered with the contest’s only perfect 50, performing successfully on his attempt.
- Winning Flight: Needing a big moment, Miami’s “Flight 305” took off from a step inside the foul line with a windmill finish.
Bryant faced a race against time in his final effort, while Keshad’s series of four impressive dunks earned him the title.
“I just came out here to show who ‘Showtime’ is,” Johnson said.
“Everybody’s journey is unique. To the kids out there: Keep dreaming. Anything can happen.”
Team Knicks required 12 points from a logo shot in under 30 seconds to match Team Cameron’s Final Round total.
Captain Clutch and crew achieved a total of 20 points from the last round.
Team Knicks Wins Kia Shooting Stars: Hitting the last shot from the designated spot (#7, “logo 3”) secured their victory, with Karl-Anthony Towns making two 4-pointers to set up Allan Houston’s decisive make.
With under 3 seconds remaining to shoot, Jalen Brunson clinched the win before Houston added another point to bring the Knicks’ total to 47. | Recap | Full Event
- Downtown KAT: Team Knicks excelled throughout the rounds, staying over the 30-point mark with Towns netting four points on 16 attempts from the logo.
- Can’t-Miss Maggette: Team Cameron also delivered with a strong performance, led by Corey Maggette, who went 3-for-3 from the logo with 12 points.
5. ON THE GROUND FOR ALL-STAR MEDIA DAY PRESENTED BY AT&T
Before Saturday’s main events, All-Star Media Day brought together moments ranging from dreams fulfilled to locker-room banter, resulting in unscripted laughs and interactions.
As USA Stars, USA Stripes & Team World took the practice floor and engaged with the media, the gravity of the weekend began to dawn on first-time All-Stars.
A weekend that took years of hard work and dedication.
- “Dream come true,” said Deni Avdija while admiring his first All-Star Game jersey. “You work hard, sacrifice, and stay patient – good things follow.”
- “At 10 years old, it was a distant dream,” added first-time All-Star Jalen Duren. “I knew that with hard work and dedication, it could be realized – and look where we are.”
- First Look: Duren took in the experience, seeing his name on the USA Stars jersey, while Avdija proudly admired his own: “Team World, we’re looking sharp.”
Just nearby, Team World’s Nikola Jokić was joking after being placed next to Luka Dončić.
- “They think that we’re friends,” Jokić laughed. “So they put us next to each other.”
- Jokić Being Jokić: During his press conference, he expressed genuine surprise when DeMarcus Cousins asked him a question before steering it toward his love for horses.
- Aura Advice: Meanwhile, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shared his wisdom with a young fan regarding aura-building: get your homework done first.
- Steph, KD & KOTD: Elsewhere, former teammates Steph Curry and Kevin Durant shared a warm reunion, while Curry – a noted sneaker free agent – experimented with Anthony Edwards’ sneakers.
- Classic KD: When asked what he’d prefer to give up – video games or X, Durant answered quickly.
Beyond the laughs, some players took a moment to reflect on basketball itself.
Cade Cunningham’s perspective on possible changes in the game was noteworthy; he didn’t mention rules or trends. Instead, he addressed something fundamental:
- “I think we have the most beautiful game there is,” Cade said. “It’s about keeping the game as pure as possible.”
Victor Wembanyama was equally candid regarding expectations and ambitions:
“Supply and demand,” Wemby stated. “And I’m ready to deliver.”
