The Kia Forum in Inglewood, California, won’t just echo with the squeak of sneakers this Friday night—it will pulse with the energy of a Hollywood premiere. The 2026 Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game tips off at 7 p.m. ET, broadcast nationally on ESPN, transforming Los Angeles into the center of a different basketball universe, where celebrities will lace up and attempt to replicate the feats of the pros.
Here’s the essence of All-Star Weekend in L.A.—a blurring of the lines between sport and spectacle, where crossover appeal meets crossover dribbles. The event has become a highlight of the festivities.
The rosters read like an improbable group chat, yet somehow, they work.
Leading one team is Giannis Antetokounmpo, the two-time NBA MVP and champion, who will coach alongside his brothers, Thanasis and Alex. Adding to the bench is four-time World Series champion and Dodgers superstar Mookie Betts, whose athleticism seems readily transferable to any sport requiring timing and precision.
The roster itself is a who’s who of actors, athletes, influencers and stars. Emmy-winning actor, writer, and producer Keegan-Michael Key brings a comedic timing honed by years in Hollywood. Rome Flynn, the reigning MVP, returns to defend his title. Dylan Wang, a Chinese superstar actor and singer, makes his third appearance, bringing international flair. ESPN Senior NBA Insider Shams Charania, typically breaking news, will be trading jump shots for scoops. Jenna Bandy, a social media creator known for viral basketball trick shots, will test her internet fame on the hardwood. Charlotte Hornets Co-Chairman and Governor Rick Schnall steps out of the boardroom and onto the court. Former NBA center Tacko Fall, at 7-foot-6, will undoubtedly dominate the paint. Jeremy Lin, a 2019 NBA champion, returns to the All-Star stage. Multi-platinum rapper GloRilla, engaged to Toronto Raptors All-Star Brandon Ingram, adds a musical edge. Brazilian soccer legend Cafu, a two-time FIFA World Cup champion, brings world-class footwork. And Detroit Lions All-Pro wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, an L.A. Native, will test whether his NFL hands translate to alley-oops.
The opposing team is coached by Emmy-winning actor and comedian Anthony Anderson, along with Lethal Shooter (Chris Matthews), an NBA shooting coach, and NBA trainer Chris Brickley. The blue team roster includes actor Simu Liu, social media influencer Cody Jones, hip-hop artist Badshah, Canadian sprinter Andre De Grasse, reality TV star Taylor Frankie Paul, Phoenix Suns owner Matt Ishbia, NBA veteran Jason “White Chocolate” Williams, model Nicolas Vansteenberghe, multi-platinum producer Mustard, and singer Adrien Nunez, as well as Chargers legend Keenan Allen.
The broadcast team will feature Mark Jones on play-by-play, with Richard Jefferson providing analysis and Monica McNutt reporting from the sidelines. Before tipoff, “Hoop Streams” will air live at 6:30 p.m. ET on ESPN’s YouTube and Facebook platforms, hosted by Vanessa Richardson and NBA champion Iman Shumpert.
Adding to the spectacle, K-pop group CORTIS—newly designated as “Friends of the NBA”—will become the first K-pop act to headline the Celebrity Game halftime show.
The Ruffles Celebrity Game has always been playful, but in Los Angeles, it feels particularly intentional. This city understands performance, legacy, and the joy that comes when competition shares space with charisma. It’s a reminder that the sport’s greatest trick isn’t perfection, but connection.
On Friday night at the Kia Forum, the game will matter just enough to feel real, and just little enough to feel free. And in a weekend celebrating the best basketball players on the planet, the celebrities will remind us that the sport’s greatest strength isn’t just athletic prowess, but its ability to bring people together.
