NBA rules out removing the 2026 All-Star Game from Los Angeles
Adam Silver confirms the event will remain at the Intuit Dome despite the investigation into the Clippers
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Monday that the league is not considering moving the 2026 All-Star Game out of the LA Clippers' new arena, the Intuit Dome, despite an investigation into an alleged violation of salary cap rules related to star Kawhi Leonard.
The investigation began last month following a report by journalist Pablo Torre, which revealed a $28 million sponsorship deal between Leonard and Aspiration Fund Adviser LLC, a California-based sustainability firm that filed for bankruptcy this year. Clippers owner Steve Ballmer had previously invested $50 million in the company, and in 2021 the team announced a $300 million sponsorship deal with Aspiration.
If the NBA determines the Clippers circumvented salary cap rules, punishment could include fines of up to $7.5 million, voided contracts, and even the loss of future draft picks. However, Silver clarified that the investigation process and the hosting of All-Star Weekend are entirely separate matters.
"There are no plans to move the All-Star Game," Silver said. “The planning of the event and its activities are being conducted completely independently of the ongoing investigation.”
An innovative format for the 2026 All-Star Game
The 2026 All-Star Game will be played on February 15 in Los Angeles and will mark the return of NBC as the official broadcast network. Furthermore, the event will feature a new format that promises to give the competition an international twist.
According to sources cited by ESPN, the league is planning a tournament with three teams of eight players each: two representing the United States and one representing the rest of the world. Each squad would face off in 12-minute games, with a more competitive and dynamic approach than the traditional format.
The proposal has already been presented to the NBA's competition committee, which includes owners, executives, and players, and has reportedly received a positive response.Silver explained in April that the new format seeks to reflect the global nature of basketball today.
“This represents a tremendous opportunity to do something different, with a spirit of international competition, rather than following the traditional All-Star Game formats,” the commissioner said.