Inglewood, Calif. — On Saturday night at the Intuit Dome, All-Star Saturday delivered its usual mix of spectacle and highlight-reel moments: Damian Lillard, sidelined for the season with a torn Achilles, won the State Farm 3-Point Contest; Team Knicks captured the revived Shooting Stars title; and Miami’s Keshad Johnson emerged victorious in the AT&T Slam Dunk Contest. The evening opened with a high-octane three‑point showdown that went to the final rack, while the Shooting Stars event returned after an 11‑year absence and the Dunk Contest featured both veteran flair and youthful creativity. Crowd energy fluctuated through the night, but several individual performances left an imprint heading into Sunday’s All-Star Game festivities.
Key Takeaways
- Damian Lillard won the 3‑Point Contest, scoring 27 in the opening round and 29 in the final to outlast Devin Booker, who finished with 27 in the championship round.
- Team Knicks won the Shooting Stars competition with a 47‑point final, defeating Team Cameron, which finished with 38 points in the final round.
- Keshad Johnson of the Miami Heat won the Dunk Contest, advancing through the final against Carter Bryant after a series of crowd-pleasing attempts; Bryant recorded a perfect 50 from the judges on one dunk.
- Attendance atmosphere at the Intuit Dome was described as subdued for much of the card despite attempts by performers and fan groups to raise the energy level.
- Kom Knueppel (Kon Knuppel) and Donovan Mitchell delivered notable 3‑Point Contest first rounds with 27 and 24 points, respectively; Norm Powell, Jamal Murray and others also competed in the field of eight shooters.
- NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said a vote on expansion will occur in 2026 and reiterated that franchise relocation is not being considered.
- Giannis Antetokounmpo confirmed he will not play in Sunday’s All-Star Game due to a calf issue but told media he felt “100%” while continuing a cautious rehab approach.
Background
All-Star Saturday Night remains one of the most anticipated blocks of NBA All-Star Weekend programming, often outshining the All-Star Game itself in excitement and viewership. Several signature competitions—the 3‑Point Contest and the Slam Dunk Contest—have become stand-alone draws, attracting marquee shooters and athletic showpieces. The Shooting Stars contest returned for the first time since 2015, replacing the Skills Competition for this year and bringing back a format that pairs current players with veterans and alumni.
Historically, the 3‑Point Contest has crowned both rising stars and established sharpshooters; Damian Lillard now joins the company of multi‑time winners after building a late burst in the final round. The Dunk Contest has evolved into a showcase for creativity and crowd engagement, with judging panels composed of former dunk champions and longtime evaluators. Meanwhile, league leadership has continued to face questions about competitive integrity, expansion and incentives—topics Commissioner Adam Silver addressed in All-Star week remarks.
Main Event
The evening began with the State Farm 3‑Point Contest, a field of eight that included Devin Booker, Tyrese Maxey, Donovan Mitchell, Jamal Murray, and rookies like Kon Knuppel. Lillard, who has not played this season after rupturing his Achilles in the playoffs, said entering the contest started as a joke but quickly became serious when a spot opened. He relied on polished, stand‑still shooting—skills he has refined in recovery—to post a 27 in round one and then a 29 in the final to clinch the title.
Devin Booker pushed Lillard to the wire, hitting clutch shots that put him in position to win, but missed three late attempts in his money rack that left him at 27. Other sharpshooters impressed in early rounds—Kon Knuppel matched Lillard’s early intensity with a 27, and Donovan Mitchell shot 9‑of‑10 from the corners for 24 points—yet none outpaced Lillard in the championship heat.
The Shooting Stars competition followed, with Team Knicks (Jalen Brunson, Karl‑Anthony Towns and Allan Houston, plus passer Rick Brunson) posting a 47 in the final to take the revived crown. Team Cameron—built from Duke alums—advanced to the final after a 24 in the first round and finished second. The format stayed true to its roots: three‑person teams attempted designated shots from around the court within a time limit, with the top two advancing to a final sprint.
The dunk segment featured Carter Bryant, Jaxson Hayes, Jase Richardson and Keshad Johnson. Judges awarded a 50 for one of Bryant’s slams, but Bryant faltered on a later between‑the‑legs attempt, forcing a simpler reverse that failed to clinch the title. Johnson combined athleticism with showmanship—interspersing a little dance between finishes—and advanced through to win the contest in the final round over Bryant.
Analysis & Implications
Lillard’s victory carries symbolic weight beyond a single trophy: it reaffirms his status as an elite shooter and a marquee personality even while rehabbing an Achilles rupture. For fans and the league, the sight of a sidelined star competing successfully may boost engagement for late‑season narratives and help maintain interest for his eventual return. Practically, the win means Lillard now has three 3‑Point Contest titles, a distinction that ties him with historic multi‑time winners.
The return of Shooting Stars signals the NBA’s willingness to reintroduce legacy events that blend nostalgia with current talent. Team Knicks’ win—anchored by Jalen Brunson’s cool finishing and Rick Brunson’s accurate passing—highlights how small team dynamics and veteran pairing can shift outcomes in timed, skill‑based formats. For the league, the revived event offers programming variety and a chance to showcase alumni connections that resonate with longtime fans.
The Dunk Contest outcome suggests the event remains a balance of risk and spectacle. Judges still reward high‑difficulty attempts, but consistency and crowd rapport matter as much as flash. Carter Bryant’s 50 illustrates the ceiling of judged scoring, while Johnson’s approach proved that performance and entertainment value can tip close contests. The contest’s mixed reception—good but not universally rapturous—may influence how producers market and structure future dunk shows.
Comparison & Data
| Event | Winner | Notable Score |
|---|---|---|
| State Farm 3‑Point Contest | Damian Lillard | Final: 29 (Lillard) — Booker: 27 |
| Kia Shooting Stars | Team Knicks | Final: 47 — Team Cameron: 38 |
| AT&T Slam Dunk Contest | Keshad Johnson | One 50 from judges (Carter Bryant) |
The table summarizes winners and the most concrete scoring figures available from the competition. While the 3‑Point Contest records per‑round totals, the Dunk Contest scoring is more episodic and judges’ marks vary by attempt; the single 50 by Carter Bryant stands out as a benchmark of peak execution in the night’s dunk judging.
Reactions & Quotes
Players, league officials and fans offered mixed reactions across social and media channels. Lillard described how his participation began casually and evolved into a serious commitment to compete:
“It started off as kind of a joke… if there’s a spot, sign me up. You know that I’m always serious.”
Damian Lillard
The comment underscored Lillard’s competitive temperament despite a season lost to injury and framed his win as both unexpected and earned. Commissioner Adam Silver used his All‑Star remarks to address leaguewide concerns:
“Yes, is my view” that tanking is worse this season; “we’re going to be looking more closely at the totality of all the circumstances.”
Adam Silver (NBA Commissioner)
Silver’s remarks signal continued scrutiny of competitive incentives and potential policy adjustments, while Giannis Antetokounmpo offered a cautious take on his availability for the All‑Star Game:
“I feel good. I feel 100%,”
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Giannis’ statement was accompanied by team medical caution; the Bucks are managing his return to avoid setbacks that could extend his absence.
Unconfirmed
- TV ratings and overnight viewership figures for Saturday’s programming have not been released and are not yet verified for comparisons to prior years.
- Detailed per‑dunk judges’ breakdowns beyond isolated scores (such as the 50 awarded to Carter Bryant) have not been made public in full official tallies.
- Reports that certain ownership groups are firmly lined up for anticipated expansion in Seattle and Las Vegas stem from industry coverage but have not been confirmed by formal league announcements.
Bottom Line
All‑Star Saturday in 2026 delivered memorable individual moments: Damian Lillard’s triumphant return to competitive shooting, Team Knicks reclaiming a nostalgic title, and Keshad Johnson turning flair into a Dunk Contest championship. The night reaffirmed why these ancillary events often capture fan interest more reliably than the exhibition game itself, offering concentrated displays of skill and personality.
Looking ahead, the league faces programming and competitive questions—how to keep event formats fresh, how to increase crowd engagement at arenas like the Intuit Dome, and how to address broader issues such as tanking and potential expansion. For viewers, the takeaway is clear: Saturday’s slate remains a central showcase for player brand moments and a preview of storylines to follow into the regular season’s second half.
Sources
- NBC Sports — (Sports media: original event coverage)
- NBA Communications on Twitter — (Official league communications: media statement)