All-Star Weekend 2026 in Los Angeles, or better yet, Inglewood, is complete.
The Thunder had four players selected to participate. Only two were healthy enough to actually suit up. But the ones who showed up? They made their presence felt… for the most part.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was selected to his fifth All-Star Game but couldn’t play due to injury. Ajay Mitchell was selected as a Rising Star but was sidelined as well.
That left newly acquired Thunder guard Jared McCain, who participated in the celebrity three-point competition, and Chet Holmgren, who played in his first All-Star Game.
My All-Star Weekend
This weekend felt like controlled chaos.
Everywhere you turned, something was happening. Activations. Practice runs. Brand events. Pop-ups. Trying to keep up with Jared alone was a workout.
I had the chance to catch Chet immediately after his first All-Star Game for a quick exclusive. Those moments make it worth it. Not just the spectacle, but the access. I also attended a cool podcast launch event for No Flukes, put on by Vaughn Alexander and Co., then shot over to his son, SGA’s event, five minutes down the street in West Hollywood.
This year, it felt different being a part of everything, not just watching from afar.
Jared’s All-Star Weekend
Jared played in and won the celebrity three-point competition.
And yes… he’s a current NBA player, so that felt slightly unfair. But hey, I wasn’t out there competing.
More than the trophy, though, it was how visible he was all weekend. Jared was everywhere. He represents this new era of players’ ability to brand themselves, telling their own stories.
He’s part of that generation that understands content, branding, and personality. Players are not only allowed to tell their own story now, but they’re encouraged to. It humanizes them. Fans love it.
Seeing him move like that in just his second NBA season? Not normal. But very on brand.
Chet’s All-Star Weekend
Chet’s first All-Star appearance felt similar to the way Jalen Williams was introduced to the national audience last season: a soft launch into the spotlight.
He had an appearance at Foot Locker, competed in the Shooting Stars Challenge alongside Druski and Rip Hamilton, and… let’s just say they didn’t take home the trophy.
They finished last.
But redemption came quickly.
Chet helped lead the USA Stars squad to a win in the All-Star Game over the World Team and the veteran-heavy USA Stripes squad. For a first-timer, the moment didn’t look too big.
It looked earned.
Shai’s All-Star Weekend
Shai got the best of both worlds.
Another All-Star selection. Another All-Star starter nod. None of the on-court responsibility.
His return is likely coming after the break, but on Valentine’s Day weekend, 2 got to chill.
Well… chill for Shai.
He attended the release party for his latest SHAI 001 colorway, “Truffle,” followed by a fan launch and performances from Osamason, Babyface Ray, Lelo, BabyChiefDoIt, and Ty Hues.
He still did media day. Still went through shootaround. Still got announced before the game.
But overall? He got to build the brand without adding miles to the body.
I learned that All-Star Weekend isn’t just about who plays. It’s about who shows up, who makes themselves visible, and who grows their personal brand. And healthy or not, the Thunder showed up.
