The NBA is reaching into its vault of fan-favorite traditions to spice up the 2026 All-Star festivities. On Saturday, the league officially announced the return of the NBA Shooting Stars contest, reviving the multi-generational shooting competition after an 11-year hiatus. Set to take place during the State Farm All-Star Saturday Night at the brand-new Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, the event will take the spotlight as a replacement for the Skills Challenge, which the league has decided to table for at least this year.
The Return of a Fan-Favorite Tradition
The NBA Shooting Stars contest was once a staple of the All-Star Saturday Night lineup, running from 2004 until its final appearance in 2015. The competition was best known for its unique format, which paired current NBA stars with retired legends and, in previous iterations, WNBA players. After a decade-long absence, the league is bringing the format back with a fresh twist, featuring four teams comprised of two current NBA players and one retired legend per squad.
The decision to bring back the contest comes as the NBA continues to experiment with its All-Star Weekend Saturday Night schedule. By replacing the Skills Challenge, the league is leaning into a format that emphasizes pure shot-making and chemistry between different eras of basketball talent.
A Star-Studded Field: The 2026 Teams
The 2026 field features a compelling mix of franchise icons and rising stars. Leading the way is Team Knicks, which will see current New York superstars Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns join forces with franchise legend Allan Houston. Houston is no stranger to the event, having been a past Shooting Stars champion during his playing days.
Perhaps the most intriguing entry is Team Harper, which turns the competition into a family affair. This squad features five-time NBA champion Ron Harper Sr. alongside his two sons: San Antonio Spurs rookie Dylan Harper and Boston Celtics forward Ron Harper Jr. The elder Harper expressed his excitement about the opportunity, noting that he had long warned his older son that Dylan would eventually become a fierce competitor once he reached NBA size.
The remaining two teams offer a mix of elite talent and collegiate connections:
- Team All-Star: Featuring Scottie Barnes (Toronto Raptors), Chet Holmgren (Oklahoma City Thunder), and three-time All-Star Richard Hamilton.
- Team Cameron: A tribute to Duke University’s Cameron Indoor Stadium, featuring Blue Devil alumni Jalen Johnson (Atlanta Hawks), Kon Knueppel (Charlotte Hornets), and Corey Maggette.
How the NBA Shooting Stars Contest Works
The NBA Shooting Stars contest will follow a two-round format designed to test speed and accuracy. In the first round, all four teams will compete, with the top two scoring teams advancing to the final championship round. The rules are straightforward but demanding:
Each team has 70 seconds to successfully make shots from seven designated locations around the court. These spots range from short-range jumpers to the dreaded half-court heave that often decided the winner in years past. All three players on a team must shoot at each location in a specific, predetermined order. The clock only stops once the final shot is made or time expires.
The half-court shot remains the ultimate equalizer in this competition. Historically, teams that could knock down the long-distance prayer early in their 70-second window almost always found themselves on the podium.
Chasing the Legacy of the Bosh Dynasty
When the NBA Shooting Stars contest was last active, it was dominated by one man: Chris Bosh. Alongside Swin Cash and Dominique Wilkins, Bosh won the final three editions of the contest (2013, 2014, and 2015). Their record of three consecutive titles remains the gold standard for the event. While Bosh is not in this year's field, the inclusion of past champions like Allan Houston suggests that veteran experience could play a massive role in who walks away with the trophy in 2026.
The revival of this event is part of a broader shift for All-Star Saturday Night. Along with the Shooting Stars return, the night will feature the Starry 3-Point Contest and the AT&T Slam Dunk Contest. While the dunk contest will see a new champion crowned—as three-time winner Mac McClung has opted not to compete this year—the return of Shooting Stars provides a nostalgic anchor for fans who remember the classic era of All-Star weekends.
Looking Ahead to All-Star Saturday Night
Fans can catch the return of the NBA Shooting Stars contest on Saturday, February 14, 2026. With the Harper family looking to make history and the New York duo of Brunson and Towns looking to bring more hardware back to the Garden, the stakes are surprisingly high for a competition that has been dormant for over a decade. The event promises to be a highlight of the weekend at the Intuit Dome, offering a perfect blend of the league's storied history and its bright future.
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