Welcome to The Sporting Tribune Podcast Network and a new episode of The Sporting Tribune Today, our every-weekday show on sports in Southern California, Las Vegas and Hawaii.
On today’s episode of The Sporting Tribune Today, your hosts share their firsthand perspective on covering the 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend as media, followed by a deep dive into the All-Star Game format and Kawhi Leonard’s standout performance.
Segment One — Covering the All-Star Game as Media
Arash, Grant, and Anwar open the show with an inside look at what it’s like to cover the NBA All-Star Weekend live — from player availability and buzz around events to the excitement of being on site at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. They talk about how the environment differed from previous years, the interaction with players and coaches during All-Star Media Day, and what stood out about player energy, fan engagement, and the broader vibe of this year’s festivities. Whether it was breaking news moments or candid locker-room reactions, the crew gives listeners a front-row seat to the weekend’s biggest stories.
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Segment Two — All-Star Game Format & Kawhi’s Performance
In the second segment, the hosts break down the new NBA All-Star Game format, which featured a three-team round-robin tournament (two U.S. teams and a World team) and then a championship game — a shift designed to bring more competitiveness and meaning to midseason basketball. The format helped make this year’s showcase one of the most engaging All-Star Games in years, drawing some of the highest viewership numbers in over a decade.
Amid this, Kawhi Leonard turned in one of the tournament’s most memorable performances, scoring 31 points and hitting a clutch go-ahead three to lift Team USA Stripes past Team World in a tightly contested matchup. His efficiency and impact — including a barrage of contested jumpers and six made triples — electrified the home crowd and underscored how the new format encouraged star players to compete hard throughout the event.
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