The 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend is officially underway as the league celebrates its 75th edition. Saturday’s (Feb. 14) lineup featured the 3-Point Contest, Shooting Stars, and the Slam Dunk Contest. But instead of the on-court action, the biggest talking point online quickly became the start time.
NBA World Blasts All-Star Event’s New Timing
All-Star Saturday tipped off at 5 p.m. ET (2 p.m. local time in Los Angeles), a major shift from its traditional 8 p.m. ET primetime slot. For years, it was marketed as “All-Star Saturday Night.”
This time, it felt more like All-Star Saturday Afternoon, and people were not happy.
Social media filled up almost immediately with confusion and frustration.
One user wrote, “Why was All-Star Saturday so early? I didn’t see a single second of it. I always assume it’s at night. Feels like back in the day when I would find out home run derby was in the afternoon.”
This reaction summed up many fans who completely missed the event.
Why was All-Star Saturday so early? I didn’t see a single second of it. I always assume it’s at night. Feels like back in the day when I would find out home run derby was in the afternoon.
— Ryan Feldman (@TheRyanFeldman) February 15, 2026
Hoops Reference X page didn’t mince words either, posting, “The most electric event of the night starting at 5 PM EST is tragic planning man.”
Echoing the disbelief surrounding the early tip-off, CBS Sports analyst Ashley Nicole Moss added, “Just got back from the beach and All Star Saturday Night already started??!? TF?!”
just got back from the beach and All Star Saturday Night already started??!? TF?!
— Ashley Nicole Moss (@AshNicoleMoss) February 14, 2026
Media personality John posted, “It’s 7:50 and all star nba Saturday night is already over lmao Adam silver gotta go.”
DNVR Nuggets page took a sarcastic route, writing, “I have an idea, let’s start All-Star Saturday night at 2 pm 💡”
I have an idea, let’s start All-Star Saturday night at 2 pm💡 pic.twitter.com/luoNxQfBpr
— DNVR Nuggets (@DNVR_Nuggets) February 14, 2026
A popular Lakers fan page, LakersSpin, went even further: “I’m not sure turning it into NBA All-Star Saturday AFTERNOON was the way to fix it. Just throw the whole weekend away at this point.”
I’m not sure turning it into NBA All-Star Saturday AFTERNOON was the way to fix it.
Just throw the whole weekend away at this point
— LakersSpin (@LakersSpin) February 14, 2026
Summing up the collective frustration, Richard Staple wrote: “I need to know who made the call for the NBA to start things at 5pm for All Star Weekend.”
Those were just a handful of the reactions. Several other media members and fans echoed similar complaints, questioning why the league would move one of its signature events out of primetime.
The timing change comes as the NBA attempts to boost interest in All-Star Weekend, even introducing a new USA vs. World format for the main game. The event also returned to NBC this year under a new media rights deal.
However, the Winter Olympics are airing on the same network, which might have influenced the scheduling shift away from primetime.
Still, people questioned whether avoiding Olympic competition was worth sacrificing the traditional nighttime energy that has defined All-Star Saturday for decades.
That said, Sunday’s All-Star Game is also scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. ET, adding to the conversation. It will be USA Stars vs. World, featuring stars including Devin Booker, Anthony Edwards, Nikola Jokic, Victor Wembanyama, and more.
For a weekend already facing criticism in recent years, the early start only added fuel to the fire. And if social media reaction is any indication, the NBA may have created a bigger problem than it solved.
