NBA Celebrity Game 2026: Team Giannis Triumphs as Rome Flynn Secures Back-to-Back MVP Honors

The glitz and glamour of Hollywood met the high-octane energy of the hardwood last night as the 2026 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game kicked off the 75th anniversary of All-Star Weekend. Hosted at the historic Kia Forum in Inglewood, California—the former home of the “Showtime” Lakers—the night was a perfect blend of nostalgia and futuristic flair.

When the dust settled, Team Giannis walked away with a hard-fought 65-58 victory over Team Anthony. But while the score was settled on the court, the headlines were dominated by a historic MVP repeat and a literal giant among men.

The Headlines: Rome Flynn Repeats, Tacko Fall Dominates

The biggest story of the night was actor Rome Flynn. Known for his roles in How to Get Away with Murder and Chicago Fire, Flynn proved that his 2025 MVP win was no fluke. He finished the night with 17 points, showcasing a smooth shooting stroke that would make some pro scouts take a second look. Flynn is now the first celebrity to win back-to-back MVP honors in the game’s history.

However, many fans on social media felt there was a “snub” in the MVP race. Tacko Fall, the 7-foot-6 former NBA center currently playing in China, was an absolute force of nature for Team Giannis. Fall recorded a monstrous stat line of 20 points, 21 rebounds, and 5 blocks. Seeing Fall run the point and deliver a reverse jam in the opening minutes was easily the highlight of the night.

2026 Celebrity All-Star Game Rosters

The teams were coached by a mix of NBA royalty and entertainment icons. Here is how the star-studded rosters looked:

Team Giannis (Winners)

• Coaches: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Alex Antetokounmpo, and Mookie Betts.

• The Lineup:

  • Rome Flynn (Actor & 2-time MVP)

  • Tacko Fall (Pro Basketball Player)

  • Jeremy Lin (NBA Champion & “Linsanity” Legend)

  • GloRilla (Multi-platinum Rapper)

  • Shams Charania (ESPN Senior NBA Insider)

  • Keegan-Michael Key (Emmy-winning Actor/Comedian)

  • Jenna Bandy (Basketball Content Creator)

  • Amon-Ra St. Brown (NFL All-Pro Wide Receiver)

  • Cafu (Brazilian Soccer Legend)

  • Rick Schnall (Charlotte Hornets Co-Chairman)

Team Anthony

• Coaches: Anthony Anderson, Lethal Shooter, and Chris Brickley.

• The Lineup:

  • Badshah (Indian Rapper & International Icon)

  • Simu Liu (Marvel’s Shang-Chi Star)

  • Mustard (Grammy-winning Producer)

  • Keenan Allen (NFL Pro Bowler)

  • Andre De Grasse (Olympic Gold Medalist Sprinter)

  • Jason “White Chocolate” Williams (NBA Legend)

  • Dylan Wang (Chinese Actor & Fan Favorite)

  • Mat Ishbia (Phoenix Suns Chairman)

  • Taylor Frankie Paul (Reality TV Star)

  • Nicolas Vansteenberghe (Love Island USA)

Game Highlights and 2026 Innovations

This wasn’t your grandfather’s celebrity game. The NBA introduced several “Crunch Time” rules that kept the score swinging:

1. Double-Time Scoring: In the fourth quarter, each team could activate a “Double-Time” button, making every basket worth twice the points for two minutes.

2. Mascot Double-Team: Team Giannis utilized a hilarious defensive strategy by bringing out the mascots from the Hornets, Grizzlies, and Mavs to triple-team Team Anthony’s ball-handlers.

3. The 8-Pointer: Jeremy Lin reminded everyone of his range by drilling a deep shot from the “Ruffles 4-Point Ridgeline” during a double-time period, effectively counting as 8 points.

One of the funniest moments of the night featured Shams Charania. The NBA insider was caught checking his phone for breaking news while guarding Simu Liu. Apparently, the trade deadline never sleeps, even for a celebrity All-Star.

NBA All-Star Weekend Schedule 2026

The Celebrity Game was just the appetizer. Here is the full NBA All-Star Weekend schedule for 2026, held primarily at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood:

Where to Watch Celebrity 3-Point Contest?

For fans asking where to watch the celebrity 3-point contest, while it was featured during the Celebrity Game broadcast on ESPN, many of the highlights are now available on the official NBA YouTube channel and ESPN+. The main State Farm 3-Point Contest featuring NBA stars like Kon Knueppel and Damian Lillard takes place tonight, Saturday, Feb 14, at 8:00 PM ET on TNT.

Looking Ahead: The All Star Game 2026

The weekend concludes with the nba all-star 2026 game on Sunday night. This year marks a massive shift as the NBA debuts a new tournament-style format. Instead of a single game, Team World will take on two squads from Team USA (Team USA Stripes and Team USA Stars) in a three-game mini-tournament.

With stars like Kevin Durant, Anthony Edwards, and Luka Doncic set to take the court, the 75th Anniversary celebration is poised to be the most-watched All-Star event in a decade.

FAQ: Quick Answers for Fans

Who won the NBA Celebrity Game 2026 MVP?

Rome Flynn won the MVP for the second year in a row, scoring 17 points for Team Giannis.

Where is the NBA All-Star Game 2026?

The main events are being held at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, the state-of-the-art home of the LA Clippers.

How can I watch NBA All-Star 2026?

Events are spread across ESPN (Celebrity Game), TNT (All-Star Game and Saturday Night), and Peacock (Rising Stars).