The Athletic NBA Daily: Is the All-Star Game Back??

Date: February 16, 2026
Hosts: Zena Keita, Dave DuFour, Esfandiar Baraheni
Theme: A deep dive into the 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend—new formats, renewed competition, and future implications for the league.

Episode Overview

The hosts break down the 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend, focusing on changes to the event's format, how it played out on the court, and what it means for the league's image and future. Dave DuFour reports from the event in LA, providing insider impressions on the energy, game quality, and logistics. The trio discuss whether the All-Star Game’s latest changes have succeeded in rekindling excitement, examine the state and future of “tanking” in the NBA, and highlight standout moments and players.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. All-Star Weekend Vibes and Format Changes

• Fan-Centric Atmosphere & Event Quality

  • Dave notes All-Star has always been “a fan event” with interactive activities, but perceptions have shifted:
    "The All-Star Game is never what people try to pretend like it used to be... [it] is a fan event very much geared toward bring your kids." (02:48 – Dave DuFour)
  • Today’s lower excitement is tied more to “expectations” and the overexposure of NBA games through streaming.

• Global Focus & Timing

  • Afternoon tipoff (2pm Pacific) designed to engage European audiences, with Dave suggesting the NBA is “trying to start an NBA league with stars potentially in Europe.”
    “We want some European fans to be able to stay awake... The world vs. US format is definitely playing into that.” (04:28 – Dave DuFour)

2. The New Game Format & Increased Competition

• Structural Tweaks Lead to a Competitive Edge

  • The weekend featured a fresh format: four quarters, world vs. USA, generational teams, and increased defensive intensity.
    • Rising Stars format’s success inspired the main event’s new structure (06:13).
    • Elimination of “target score” (Elam Ending) led to natural buzzer-beater moments and overtime drama.
  • Victor Wembanyama’s impact:
    “Wemby in an era where everyone likes to pretend like they are nonchalant... Wemby is earnest. He cares. He actually gives a damn.” (07:28 – Esfandiar)
    • His serious approach “raised the level” of the game, pushing others to compete (07:52–08:05).

• Generational and World vs. USA Dynamics

  • Young Team USA players facing “OGs” brought excitement, but fatigue became a factor for teams playing consecutive quarters (08:05+).
  • Pride and rivalry:
    "The pride in the old heads when it came to beating the world team...” (13:25 – Dave DuFour)
    • Kawhi Leonard’s dominance stood out (“best American basketball player in the world right now... what did he put up in that quarter? Felt like 50.” – 08:56)

• Anthony Edwards as Game MVP

  • Highlighted for leadership and swagger, especially crediting Wemby for “making everyone try” (09:24–09:37).
    • “He kept giving credit to Victor... it was cool for him to be the leader of that future Team USA.” (09:24 – Zena)

• Luka Doncic & Nikola Jokic Criticized

  • Lacked effort, which stood out given the raised level of play:
    “They were disinterested from the start... It was a little bit embarrassing.” (10:15 – Dave DuFour)

3. Debating Future Format Tweaks

• Consensus: New structure is a step forward, but fatigue and fairness issues remain.

  • Suggestions: Shorten quarters, add intermissions, blend in Rising Stars (12:00–14:23).
  • Monetary incentives cited as a possible motivator for increased competition.

• “We saw defense!”: Multiple moments of hard play, free throws, and defensive hustle—something often missing from recent All-Star Games (14:35–14:44).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Changing Expectations:
  “Why is the dunk contest not feel as special as it used to? Because we’ve seen all the dunks. The stars don’t even come and do them anymore.”
  (03:38 – Dave DuFour)

• Wembanyama’s Focus:
  “Did y' all see him taking a pause before his free throws in the All-Star Game?... He was so locked in.”
  (07:37 – Zena Keita)

• Kawhi Leonard’s Resurgence:
  “Kawhi Leonard... is the best American basketball player in the world right now. It’s him or Anthony Edwards, I don’t know. But no one is playing like Kawhi has been the last couple months.”
  (08:18 – Dave DuFour)

• Anthony Edwards’ Swagger:
  “It was just his swagger. Like, south was alive.”
  (09:24 – Zena Keita)

• Game Competitiveness:
  "We saw multiple free throws. We saw challenges. There were three bodies on the floor on one play. We saw defense."
  (14:35 – 14:44 – Hosts)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• All-Star Vibes, Atmosphere, and Format: 02:24–06:12
• Wemby’s Influence & Game Intensity: 06:12–08:05
• Kawhi’s Dominance & Game MVP Discussion: 08:05–09:37
• Luka & Jokic Criticism: 10:15–11:52
• Format Reflection & Suggestions: 12:00–14:23
• Moments of Real Competition: 14:35–14:52

3-Point Contest, Dunk Contest, and Saturday Highlights

• The three-point contest is now the “main event” of All-Star Saturday—“the NBA’s home run derby.”
  (17:14–17:27)

  • Damian Lillard’s victory was the brightest moment, with major drama as Devin Booker missed clutch shots:
    “The thrill of watching D Book potentially being able to beat Dame and then miss three of his final shots. That was incredible theater.”
    (17:27 – Esfandiar)

• Dunk Contest: Energy lagged, with creative attempts to revive it (video intros, dunk clock), but hosts agree: current structure can’t match the excitement of past contests or viral professional dunkers; TV needs are taking precedence over the action. (20:05–20:38)

• Suggestion: Experiment with a one-on-one tournament; financial incentives like the $200k Unrivaled event in WNBA could motivate NBA stars (21:14–22:44).

Adam Silver’s Press Conference & The Tanking Dilemma (24:18–28:44)

• Silver is “mad” about blatant tanking, calling it a real threat to regular season engagement and the league’s broader product.

• Hosts note: As long as the draft structure rewards losing, tanking will persist.

  • “If the NBA doesn’t do something, there’s going to be a serious lack of interest from fans because every single night... seven of [the games] don’t really matter. That’s a problem” (24:18 – Dave DuFour)
  • Esfandiar adds: Tanking should be temporary; teams shouldn’t dwell in the bottom (“tank and get out of there.” – 27:08)
  • The “middle” is considered death by some execs, but being competitive still has value.

Looking Ahead: Second Half & All-Star Legacies (29:16–31:40)

• Kawhi Leonard is the storyline: Playing his best basketball in years; Clippers’ future is a question mark amid team changes and possible league discipline (29:16–30:33).
• International Rivalry: Hosts predict US vs. World will be hyped all the way to the 2028 LA Olympics, especially with Wemby's intensity and leadership on display (30:33–31:08).
• Broadcasting Chemistry: Shout-out to the NBC trio—Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady, Carmelo Anthony—for their entertaining and natural studio chemistry, giving “early Inside the NBA” vibes (31:12–31:40).

Overall Conclusions

• The 2026 All-Star Weekend was a real success, largely due to format changes that encouraged real competition, especially in earlier rounds.
• New stars and fresh rivalries are emerging—Wembanyama’s presence forced others to “give a damn,” while Kawhi Leonard’s excellence was a headline story.
• Off-court, tanking remains a threat to NBA engagement; the league is at a crossroads regarding incentives and structural changes.

Summary Table: Episode Flow

| Segment | Timestamp | Highlights | |----------------------------|--------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | All-Star Vibes & Globality | 02:24–06:12 | Format tweaks, fan event angle, global audience push | | Game Format Breakdown | 06:12–08:05 | Rising Stars inspiration, Wemby’s intensity impacts whole event | | Player Highlights | 08:05–09:37 | Kawhi’s dominance, Ant’s MVP performance, fatigue factors | | Effort & Critiques | 09:37–11:52 | Luka and Jokic's lack of engagement, “exceptions” to the competitive trend | | Format Suggestions | 12:00–14:23 | Possible tweaks, tournament integration, incentive talk | | Real Competition Moments | 14:35–14:52 | Defense and hustle uncommon for recent All-Star Games | | Saturday Events Recap | 16:38–20:38 | Three-point contest = the new main event, dunk contest format debate | | Tanking & League Concerns | 24:18–28:44 | Adam Silver’s frustration, need for reform, problems with current draft logic | | Second-Half Storylines | 29:16–31:40 | Kawhi’s resurgence, US vs. World Olympics build-up, broadcast shoutouts |

Summary judgment:
The NBA All-Star Game feels reinvigorated by new energy, competitive structure, and unique personalities like Wemby, Ant, and Kawhi. The broadcast team and format shifts delivered fresh entertainment, but the looming issue of tanking threatens the league’s overall product and will need further reform. All eyes are now on the playoff push, team maneuvering, and the narrative build-up to an ever-more international NBA.