The 2026 NBA All-Star Game on NBC represents a pivotal correction in the league’s media trajectory, ending a decade of localized decline with a broad national resurgence. For years, the midseason showcase had been trapped in a cycle of diminishing returns, with viewership bottoming out at 4.6 million in 2023 and barely recovering to 4.7 million in 2025. These historic lows were often blamed on “cable drift” and a perceived lack of competitive stakes, leading many to question if the traditional All-Star format was obsolete in a fragmented digital era.
The jump to 8.8 million viewers in 2026, nearly doubling the previous year’s audience, shifts the narrative from managed decline to revitalized relevance. This spike was not a product of chance; it coincided with the NBA’s return to a major broadcast network, providing a low-barrier entry for casual fans that cable-only broadcasts lacked. More importantly, it reflects the league’s successful attempt to restore the game’s internal competitive logic, moving away from the purely ceremonial style that characterized the early 2020s.
Advertisement
When placed in the context of the last 15 years, the 2026 numbers are an outlier that rivals the league’s peak era of global star power. While the 2011 game still holds the modern record, the 2026 performance outpaces every other year of the social media age. By analyzing viewership peaks and valleys since 2010, as reported by Nielsen, it becomes clear that while star power draws the initial crowd, the platform and the product’s integrity ultimately set the ceiling.
10. 2022 NBA All-Star Game
Feb 20, 2022; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Team LeBron guard Stephen Curry (30) lifts the Kobe Bryant Trophy after the 2022 NBA All-Star Game at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Viewership: 6.3 million.
The 2022 game in Cleveland benefited from the league’s 75th Anniversary celebration, which brought together nearly all of the greatest living players for a halftime ceremony. This nostalgia factor helped temporarily buoy ratings during a period when the actual game quality was beginning to face heavier criticism from fans. Despite the star-studded guest list, the 6.3 million figure represented a steady middle ground for the decade, sitting well below the peaks seen in the early 2010s.
Advertisement
READ MORE: College basketball teams with the highest winning percentages over the past decade
9. 2010 NBA All-Star Game
On this date in 2010, the NBA All-Star Game sets a record for attendance at a basketball game, as 108,713 fans take the stands at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, Texas for a 141-139 East victory.
Dwyane Wade was named All-Star MVP with 28 points, 11 assists, 6 rebounds & 5 steals pic.twitter.com/K47z5zes3U
— ESPN Insights (@ESPNInsights) February 14, 2023
Viewership: 6.8 million.
Advertisement
The 2010 game is notable for being the baseline at the start of this 15-year window, held in front of a record-breaking crowd at Cowboys Stadium. While the venue spectacle was massive, the television audience was relatively modest compared to what would follow a year later. It served as the final All-Star appearance for several 2000s icons before the “Big Three” era in Miami began to shift the league’s national gravity.
8. 2019 NBA All-Star Game
Feb 17, 2019; Charlotte, NC, USA; Team Lebron forward Kevin Durant of the Golden State Warrior (35) and Team Giannis forward Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks (34) pose for a picture after the 2019 NBA All-Star Game at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Viewership: 6.8 million.
By 2019, the league was experimenting with the captain-draft format to spice up the rosters, which initially helped stabilize a viewership slide. The 6.8 million viewers matched the 2010 totals, showing that the league could still draw a consistent audience when the draft process generated early-week-long engagement. However, this proved to be one of the last years the game would stay near the 7-million mark before the pandemic-era fluctuations began.
7. 2012 NBA All-Star Game
Viewership: 7.1 million.
The 2012 game followed a lockout-shortened start to the season, and the high viewership reflected a fan base that was eager for basketball’s return to the national stage. Orlando hosted a high-scoring affair that featured prime versions of Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant going head-to-head. The 7.1 million viewers marked a solid follow-up to the record-breaking 2011 game, proving the league’s momentum was sustainable during the heat of the LeBron-led Heat era.
MORE: 8 unique Winter Olympics rules that will surprise you
6. 2015 NBA All-Star Game
February 15, 2015; New York, NY, USA; Western Conference guard Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder (0) wins the MVP trophy after the 2015 NBA All-Star Game at Madison Square Garden. The West defeated the East 163-158. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Viewership: 7.2 million.
Madison Square Garden served as the backdrop for the 2015 game, and the New York market helped drive a strong 7.2 million viewer total. The game featured Russell Westbrook’s breakout as a perennial All-Star MVP candidate and was one of the last “traditional” high-viewership games before the league began seeing more significant competition from digital and streaming platforms. It remains a high-water mark for the NBA’s global expansion in the mid-2010s.
5. 2020 NBA All-Star Game
Feb 16, 2020; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Team LeBron forward LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers and Team LeBron forward Kawhi Leonard of the LA Clippers celebrate after defeating Team Giannis in the 2020 NBA All Star Game at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Viewership: 7.3 million.
The 2020 game in Chicago saw a massive ratings jump due to the debut of the “Elam Ending” and a deeply emotional tribute to the late Kobe Bryant. The competitive final quarter, which saw players actually playing high-stakes defense to reach a target score, was a hit with both critics and fans. The 7.3 million viewers made it the most-watched All-Star Game of the early 2020s, though the league struggled to replicate that urgency in the years immediately following.
4. 2014 NBA All-Star Game
Feb 16, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; Eastern Conference forward LeBron James (6) of the Miami Heat, guard Dwyane Wade (3) of the Miami Heat, guard Joe Johnson (7) of the Brooklyn Nets and forward Carmelo Anthony (7) of the New York Knicks before the 2014 NBA All-Star Game at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Viewership: 7.5 million.
The 2014 New Orleans game drew a strong 7.5 million viewers, boosted by a highly competitive East-West matchup and the continued dominance of the league’s established stars. At this point in the decade, the All-Star Game was still a reliable top-tier television event, consistently outperforming other league tentpoles outside of the NBA Finals. It represented the peak of the league’s mid-decade stability before cord-cutting began to affect cable ratings more drastically.
MORE: Biggest missed deals of NBA trade deadline 2026
3. 2017 NBA All-Star Game
Feb 19, 2017; New Orleans, LA, USA; Western Conference forward Anthony Davis of the New Orleans Pelicans (23) celebrates with Western Conference guard James Harden of the Houston Rockets (13) in the 2017 NBA All-Star Game at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Viewership: 7.8 million.
The 2017 game reached a peak for the latter half of the 2010s, driven by the intense drama surrounding the breakup of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook in Oklahoma City. Fans tuned in to see how the former teammates would interact on the same floor, pushing viewership to 7.8 million. This highlighted the NBA’s ability to turn interpersonal player narratives into massive television ratings, even for an exhibition game.
2. 2026 NBA All-Star Game
Feb 15, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Team USA Stripes forward Kawhi Leonard (2) of the LA Clippers reacts after scoring a three pointer against Team World during the 75th NBA All Star Game at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Viewership: 8.8 million.
The 2026 game represents the most successful “comeback” in the event’s history, jumping from a dismal 4.7 million in 2025 to 8.8 million. The shift to NBC provided the game with a broader national platform it had lacked in its cable-only years, and the league’s focus on reviving the contest’s competitive nature resonated with the audience. It now stands as the second-most-watched All-Star Game of the last 15 years, proving the event’s relevance has been restored.
KEEP READING: Every deal that happened at the 2026 NBA trade deadline
1. 2011 NBA All-Star Game
Viewership: 9.0 million.
The 2011 game in Los Angeles remains the gold standard for All-Star viewership in the modern era. Coming during the first year of the “Heatles” in Miami and featuring Kobe Bryant playing in his home arena, the game captured a perfect storm of star power and narrative interest. Its 9-million viewer mark has not been surpassed in the 15 years since, though the 2026 game finally brought the league back within striking distance of this historic high.
Closing court: A new era for the showcase
Feb 16, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; Eastern Conference forward LeBron James (6) of the Miami Heat, guard Dwyane Wade (3) of the Miami Heat, guard Joe Johnson (7) of the Brooklyn Nets and forward Carmelo Anthony (7) of the New York Knicks before the 2014 NBA All-Star Game at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
The massive ratings jump in 2026 suggests that the NBA All-Star Game has finally solved its identity crisis. By leveraging a major broadcast partner and adopting a more competitive format, the league reclaimed millions of viewers who had tuned out over the previous five seasons. While the 2011 record still stands, the 2026 performance indicates that the All-Star Game is once again a premier national television event rather than a struggling exhibition.
—Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories on The Big Lead—
OLYMPICS:2026 Winter Olympics medal count, standings entering February 16
NFL Draft:3 shocking 2026 NFL Combine snubs, full list of prospects attending
NFL:Tennessee Titans’ new logo leaked in Fanatics mishap?
ENTERTAINMENT:Logan Paul’s Pikachu Illustrator sale price sets Guinness World Record
NEWS:Nancy Guthrie kidnapping case reportedly gets DNA breakthrough
VIRAL:Chloe Kim ‘obsessed’ with $100k gift from NFL star Myles Garrett after Olympics