USA Stars Win All-Star Game
USA Stars won the 2026 NBA All-Star Game in Los Angeles, with Anthony Edwards earning the Kobe Bryant MVP Award. Barack Obama attended with Michelle, Stephen Curry, and Ayesha Curry, receiving a standing ovation. The new four-game format was considered a success, with players showing more competitive effort than previous years.
- The new format featured a three-team, round-robin tournament with two American teams (Stars and Stripes) and one team of international players (Team World). The event consisted of four 12-minute games, with the top two teams advancing to a championship final. - MVP Anthony Edwards scored a total of 32 points across his team's three games. This was his fourth All-Star appearance and his first time winning the MVP award. - Edwards is the first player from the Minnesota Timberwolves to be named All-Star Game MVP since Kevin Garnett in 2003. - The MVP award was officially renamed the Kobe Bryant MVP Award in February 2020, following his death. Bryant and Bob Pettit hold the record for the most All-Star Game MVP wins, with four each. - Barack Obama, a well-known basketball fan, hosted pickup games with NBA stars at the White House during his presidency. His appearance at the game came ahead of the June opening of his Presidential Center in Chicago, which will include a full-length basketball court. - The game was held at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, marking the seventh time the Los Angeles area has hosted, but the first time in Inglewood since 1983. It was also the first time the game was broadcast on NBC since 2002. - To increase competitiveness, a prize pool was at stake. Each player on the winning team received $125,000, the second-place team members earned $50,000 each, and the third-place team members took home $25,000 each. - The game marked LeBron James's 22nd All-Star selection, extending his record for the most in league history.
