NBA Shooting Stars Competition 2026 Preview & Bets: Not the Knicks

Danny Burke

Written by: Danny Burke

Published: Fri Feb 13, 2026, 5:49 pm ET

Read Time: 4 minutes

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The Shooting Stars competition will return to NBA All-Star Weekend for the first time in 11 years. The format, which was previously used from 2004 to 2015, featured one current NBA player, a retired "legend" and a WNBA player. This time around, however, the WNBA spot will be replaced by a second current NBA player.

Below, I'll preview the teams and format, and share my bets for the 2026 NBA Shooting Stars Competition.

For additional NBA All-Star Game information on picks, analysis and more, take a look at our 2026 NBA Dunk Contest Odds and Best Bets, along with our Rising Stars Challenge Breakdown and Best Bets.

You can also browse our recommendations for the best online sportsbooks available in the U.S.

Brunson Towns

NBA Shooting Stars Teams 

Four teams will compete in the 2026 NBA Shooting Stars Competition, each featuring two current NBA players and one retired legend.

Team All-Star

Scottie Barnes (Raptors)
Chet Holmgren (Thunder)
Richard Hamilton (Legend)

Team Knicks

Jalen Brunson (Knicks)
Karl-Anthony Towns (Knicks)
Allan Houston (Knicks Legend)

Team Cameron

Jalen Johnson (Hawks)
Kon Knueppel (Hornets)
Corey Maggette (Duke Legend)

Team Harper

Dylan Harper (Spurs)
Ron Harper Jr. (Celtics)
Ron Harper Sr. (Legend)

NBA Shooting Stars Format 

This year's Shooting Stars competition will consist of two rounds. In the opening round, all four teams will have 70 seconds to accumulate points by shooting from seven designated spots around the floor.

Four of those locations are worth two points, two are valued at three points and the deepest attempt on the court carries four points. Teams must decide the shooting order in advance, and players must follow that predetermined sequence throughout the round.

The two highest-scoring teams advance to the final. If there is a tie, a 30-second tiebreaker, using the same scoring format, will determine who moves on.

The championship round mirrors the first, with the top two teams battling it out. Whichever team posts the highest total in the final round will be crowned the 2026 NBA Shooting Stars champion.

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Bets for the 2026 NBA Shooting Stars Competition

At the few sportsbooks currently listing odds for this competition, Team Knicks are favored in the +170 to +175 range. Team Cameron follows at +250, with Team All-Star at +300 and Team Harper priced anywhere from +340 to +475.

My first instinct was to rule out Team Harper. The Harpers aren't the strongest collection of shooters on paper, and there's a reason they're listed at the longest odds, even if the separation isn't dramatic.

Team Knicks are appealing based on the talent alone, but in a quirky event like this one, I'm not interested in settling for a +175 price. I'd rather take my chances on the teams sandwiched in between.

That's why I'll be putting a bit of coin on Team Cameron at +250 and Team All-Star at +300.

With Team All-Star, Scottie Barnes, Chet Holmgren and Richard Hamilton are all capable of getting hot from anywhere on the floor. In a timed, rhythm-based shooting format, that versatility matters. More importantly, +300 is a price that stands out in this field.

Team Cameron is going out there to represent Duke, and I think they can do so accordingly. Kon Knueppel and Jalen Johnson have been sensational this year, and I expect that momentum to carry under the spotlight throughout this competition. I'm not quite sure what we'll get from Corey Maggette, but I'm sure the young bucks can shoulder the load if he struggles to find his old form.

Best Bets for the Shooting Stars Competition

  • Team Cameron (+250)
  • Team All-Stars (+300)

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Danny Burke
Danny Burke

Danny Burke is a betting analyst with a decade of sports media experience. He got his start at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, sharing picks on the local ESPN affiliate. After college, he hosted shows for VSiN in Las Vegas before returning to Chicago to launch 'Rush Hour', the first daily sports betting show from an Illinois casino. He also co-hosted 'Props and Locks' on Fox32’s Bears pregame show and ran 'Bet On, Chicago' on WLS-AM 890.

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