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Inglewood, CA – February 15: Anthony Edwards was named MVP after scoring 32 points in three games during the 75th NBA All-Star Game as part of the 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend, Sunday, February 15, 2026 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood on Sunday, February 15, 2026. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
The 2026 NBA All-Star is officially a success after ratings showed it was the most-watched NBA All-Star Game since 2011 and the second-most watched since 2003. 8.8 million viewers watched the event across three options from NBC, Telemundo and the Peacock streaming service. The NBA had not reached this milestone in fifteen years to confirm that interest in the new format had led to an increase in audiences.
A drastic change saw American and international players split into three teams. The older American All-Stars made up a roster, while the younger players had their own team. Players born outside of the United States or wanting to show their love for their family heritage made up the international roster. Three short matches allowed the top two teams to advance to the final.
Anthony Edwards led the young American team to a victory against LeBron James and older players in the final match. Viewers were tuned in to a confusing new format with the potential to quickly jump the shark, but audiences were stuck in continuing the product as a whole. Last year’s All-Star Game saw a less impressive 4.7 million, only to see the audience nearly double.
Non-basketball reasons for the increase in the All-Star Game
There are variables off the field for this year’s game that will see the numbers improve significantly. NBC itself is a much bigger platform than the old TNT network. Despite many fans prefer TNT’s presentationit’s still a cable channel in far fewer homes than the popular broadcast network NBC.
Casual fans looking for something new to watch had an easier method to find the game and give it a chance than in previous years. Telemundo added another big boost as it remains a popular network with Spanish-speaking viewers. Peacock’s streaming service allowed viewers to cut the cable cord to watch the series for a cheap monthly subscription.
Three different platforms meant the NBA had more potential viewers across the aisle and added them all up. In years past, TNT has not used cable audience figures online because viewers only represent viewership. This variable apart from everything that happens on the field has already given them the opportunity to have a large audience.
Basketball Reasons for Rising Star Ratings
The new format certainly helped, especially since it made a lot of noise and headlines in the sports world. NBA players have been criticized for not trying hard enough in recent years, so Adam Silver’s new format has fans curious about giving the games a chance.
The players took it more seriously with three epic matches down to the wire to crack the finals, keeping those viewers steady and adding more throughout the night. The entertaining and competitive matches made it clear that fans would rather watch this than the recent embarrassing contests.
Silver will likely keep this format for at least another year due to critical acclaim and audience success, making it a win. Future years of legends like LeBron, Stéphane Curry And Kevin Durant Ultimately, retiring will add even more importance to All-Star Weekend.
Joey Haverford Joey Haverford is a seasoned sports content writer with over 12 years of experience. He has covered the NBA, WNBA, MLB, NFL and professional wrestling in the sports industry. Learn more about Joey Haverford
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