By James Luckey, Jr.
Publisher/Editor
Observer Group Newspapers of Southern California, Inc.
There’s a difference between a city “getting an event” and a city actually hosting it — owning the footprint, setting the tone, and making the weekend feel like it belongs there. This year’s NBA All-Star Weekend did that for Inglewood.
From Friday through Sunday, the action wasn’t scattered across the region. It was concentrated — Kia Forum and Intuit Dome, with major events happening within walking distance. And for a Black press outlet, the weekend carried an added layer: the culture wasn’t on the margins. It was central.
Friday night: HBCU Classic brings the culture to the front
Friday at the Kia Forum included the Celebrity Game, a fan-friendly start that always draws big reactions. But the energy shifted in a meaningful way when it came time for the NBA HBCU Classic — because that game doesn’t just entertain, it represents something.
In the stands, you could feel it: bands, cheerleaders, alumni support, and a crowd that looked like family. For a weekend that often gets criticized for being too corporate or too polished, the HBCU Classic brought a sense of real community pride back into the building.
On the court, the game delivered too. North Carolina A&T defeated Hampton 71–70, a one-point finish that gave the night a true basketball ending — not a scripted moment.
And just a block up the street, the Castrol Rising Stars event took place at Intuit Dome, showcasing the league’s next generation. That detail matters because it illustrates the weekend’s geography: Inglewood wasn’t hosting one event; it was hosting a whole ecosystem of them, right on top of each other.
Saturday: a sharp shooter’s return and a dunk contest surprise
Saturday night is built for the highlight reels, but this year it also had a strong narrative thread.
Damian Lillard won the 3-Point Contest, posting 29 in the final round to capture his third title. Given that Lillard has been sidelined this season, the win played like a reminder: he may not be logging minutes right now, but he’s still “Dame” when the lights are on.
Then came the dunk contest — and the headline went to Keshad Johnson. He isn’t a household name nationally, which made the win even more All-Star in the best way: somebody took the stage and made people learn his name. Johnson won the contest, including a moment that brought the crowd up when he incorporated E-40 into a dunk sequence.
That blend — basketball, music, California identity — felt right for a weekend centered in Inglewood.
Sunday: community first, then a competitive All-Star Game
Sunday started with something you don’t always hear about in national recaps: community programming that wasn’t an afterthought.
At Edward Vincent Jr. Park, the NBA’s Total Health All-Star Walk brought community members together as part of the weekend’s social impact slate. For a city like Inglewood — often talked about mainly as a “venue location” — it mattered to see All-Star Weekend show up in a public space where residents actually live, walk, and gather.
Then it was time for the All-Star Game — and the new USA vs. World format delivered the most noticeable improvement fans have been asking for: effort and competitiveness.
The league has taken heat for years because the All-Star Game drifted into a low-stakes run-and-gun. This time, the structure gave players something to defend. Anthony Edwards earned MVP honors, and the overall pace and intensity were elevated.
From a local standpoint, Kawhi Leonard gave the crowd a moment that felt personal: he scored 31 against the World team to push the USA Stars into the final round. That matters in Inglewood because the Clippers’ presence is part of the city’s current identity — and Intuit Dome isn’t a concept anymore. It’s real, it’s here, and it hosted the league’s biggest showcase.
What Inglewood proved
All-Star Weekend 2026 didn’t feel like “Los Angeles hosting.” It felt like Inglewood hosting — tightly organized, locally visible, and culturally grounded.
With the Kia Forum and Intuit Dome operating like anchors a block apart, the city demonstrated what it looks like when sports infrastructure becomes a true neighborhood district. The weekend also raised the long-term question that always follows major events: how do the economic benefits and visibility translate into lasting community wins?
But from the perspective of being out there, moving through it, and watching the crowd respond — Inglewood didn’t just handle the moment. It claimed it.
James Luckey, Jr.
James Luckey, Jr. is the Publisher/Editor of Observer Group Newspapers of Southern California, Inc., which includes the Los Angeles News Observer, Valley’s News Observer, and Bakersfield News Observer. As a newspaper publisher, entrepreneur, and advocate for community-focused journalism, he is committed to amplifying Black voices and delivering news that matters to Southern California’s diverse communities. When he’s not working to expand The Observer’s reach in print and digital, he’s also building Luckey Vending Inc., a vending services company serving businesses across the region.