The 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend is underway, bringing four days of events, celebrity appearances, and on-court showcases. But beyond the entertainment, there’s a real financial incentive attached to Sunday’s main event.
This year’s All-Star Game features a revamped USA vs. World format, with three teams competing in a round-robin before the top two advance to the championship game. While pride and bragging rights are always part of the equation, there is also a sizable prize pool on the line.
Players’ Earnings for Winning the NBA All-Star Game
Per data from 2024, the league doubled the prize money for All-Star winners in 2018. The bar was initially set at $50,000 per winner, according to the most recent collective bargaining agreement (CBA).
In 2018, the league increased the payout to $100,000.
According to the reported figures, the total prize pool is $1.8 million. Every player on the winning team is supposed to get $125,000. The runner-ups will receive $50,000, and the third-place team will take home $25,000 apiece.
To put that into perspective, $125,000 is a small fraction of what most All-Stars earn annually. For max-contract players making $40–50 million per season, the bonus is relatively modest. However, for younger players on rookie-scale contracts, the payout is more meaningful.
It’s also important to note that players do not receive appearance fees simply for being selected. Their compensation during All-Star Weekend comes strictly from prize money tied to competition results.
Prize Money for Other All-Star Events
The All-Star Game isn’t the only event with financial incentives.
- Slam Dunk Contest: Winner earns $105,000, runner-up receives $55,000, and the other two participants take home $20,000 each.
- 3-Point Contest: Winner receives ~$60,000, second place earns $40,000, and third place earns $20,000, with additional payouts for other finishers.
- Rising Stars Challenge: Players on the winning team earn $25,000, runners-up get $15,000, and the remaining participants receive $10,000.
These figures represent significant increases over past decades, reflecting the league’s deliberate effort to raise the stakes.
Another thing to note here is that the league does not publicly promote the exact amounts of its cash prizes.
The Change in the All-Star Bonus System
Under the 2017 collective bargaining agreement, All-Star Game winners earned $50,000, while losers received $25,000. In 2018, the NBA doubled the winners’ bonus to $100,000.
By 2022, contest payouts jumped again, particularly for the Slam Dunk Contest, which rose from roughly $40,000 for the winner to $105,000. The latest CBA formalized these higher amounts, and the current structure pushes the championship team’s All-Star bonus to $125,000 per player.
In short, bonuses have more than doubled over the past decade. But Does Prize Money Make the Game More Competitive? That remains the central question.
All-Star Games across sports struggle with intensity because the risk-reward equation doesn’t fully align. A strained hamstring or torn ligament in an exhibition game could derail a playoff push or future earnings.
Some players have openly admitted they view the weekend as a break rather than a battleground. While the increased bonuses add incentive, they may not fundamentally change how the game is approached.
Ultimately, All-Star Weekend is about entertainment, global marketing, and celebrating the league’s top talent. The money is a bonus rather than a primary motivator.
The NBA continues to tweak formats and increase financial rewards in search of greater competitiveness. Whether $125,000 per player is enough to elevate the intensity remains to be seen.