NBA All-Star New Format: United States versus World

NBA All-Star 2026 brings a new breakthrough. For the first time in modern history, the USA vs World format is packaged into a high-intensity mini round-robin tournament promising action from the first minute.

The 75th edition will be held at Intuit Dome, Inglewood, California, on Monday, February 16, 2026 (Western Indonesia Time), with a short yet competitive competition concept.

Citing the official NBA website, three teams will be involved in a mini-tournament consisting of four games, each lasting 12 minutes. Two teams represent the United States, namely USA Stars and USA Stripes, while the other team is Team World, featuring international players.

New Format: USA vs World in Four Games

The opening game pits Team World against USA Stars. The winner of that game immediately faces USA Stripes in the second game.

The third game will feature the loser of the first game against USA Stripes. The two teams with the best performance advance to the fourth game as the final match.

If all three teams finish with a 1-1 record in the round-robin phase, the standings will be determined based on point differential from the two games played by each team.

Team Composition and Age Division

USA Stars and USA Stripes are differentiated based on age. Young players populate USA Stars, while senior players make up the USA Stripes squad. Team World features international stars from various countries who have added their unique flavor to the NBA.

Detroit Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff is entrusted with leading USA Stars. USA Stripes is coached by San Antonio Spurs' Mitch Johnson. Meanwhile, Team World is led by Serbian Toronto Raptors coach, Darko Rajakovic.

Roster Changes Due to Injury

Several player changes occurred ahead of the game due to injuries. Alperen Sengun replaces Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Brandon Ingram replaces the injured Stephen Curry, who is out. De'Aaron Fox replaces Giannis Antetokounmpo, while Norman Powell shifts to strengthen Team World.

A total of 24 players were initially selected as All-Stars, consisting of 12 representatives from the Eastern Conference and 12 from the Western Conference. The starters were determined by a combination of fan voting (50%), NBA players (25%), and a media panel (25%). Meanwhile, the reserve players were selected by the NBA head coaches.

Complete Rosters for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game Teams

USA Stars:
Scottie Barnes
Devin Booker
Cade Cunningham
Jalen Duren
Anthony Edwards
Chet Holmgren
Jalen Johnson
Tyrese Maxey

USA Stripes:
Jaylen Brown
Jalen Brunson
Kevin Durant
De'Aaron Fox
Brandon Ingram
LeBron James
Kawhi Leonard
Donovan Mitchell
Stephen Curry (injured, not playing)

Team World:
Deni Avdija
Luka Doncic
Nikola Jokic
Jamal Murray
Norman Powell
Alperen Sengun
Pascal Siakam
Karl-Anthony Towns
Victor Wembanyama
Giannis Antetokounmpo (injured, not playing)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (injured, not playing)

This new format is predicted to increase competitiveness while providing a sharper competitive edge compared to previous All-Star concepts. With a composition of young stars, active legends, and global talent, NBA All-Star 2026 has the potential to be one of the most exciting editions in history.