We don’t need a 394th think piece to reiterate how NBA All-Star weekend has lost its way. 

What we do need? An NBA Royal Rumble style, free-for-all 1-on-1 spectacle unlike anything the sport has ever seen.

A huge part of why Royal Rumble resonates with wrestling fans is because only some of the participants are revealed ahead of time while the order itself is never truly known.

The result? Genuine tension and palpable buzz that is impossible to fake. That is exactly what NBA All-Star weekend sorely lacks. The player entrances, as much as the actual competition, create the atmosphere. 

Done the right way, building a roster could check every box with a mix of established and new All-Stars, former legends and fan favorites, select rising stars to showcase the future and WNBA players both past and present. Future iterations could even feature college basketball’s top draft prospects or stars from the rumored NBA Europe league.

MORE: NBA All-Star predictions

The NBA could lean into themes, tell stories with narrative and cultivate authentic competition.

Here’s exactly how it could work:

• 30 total participants including current All-Stars, former legends and WNBA players.
• 1-on-1 featuring a champion and challenger; Winner stays on as champion.
• Champion needs to score once, challenger needs to score twice.
• Challenger starts with ball; not make-it-take-it.
• One shot per possession (no offensive rebounds to mitigate unfair height disparity).
• Last player standing wins.

I’ve been percolating on this for a while and after sending the idea to my esteemed former colleague Kevin Wildes to use as a half-baked idea on the Bill Simmons Podcast, and decided to fully flesh it out.

What would it look like if the NBA put this into play right now? Here’s the order along with how I see it playing out.

Buckle up, lets get weird.

NBA Royal Rumble order for 2026

1. Kawhi Leonard

Fun guy! In a vacuum, Leonard might literally be the last pick to kick this off. But this year’s festivities are in the Intuit Dome and he’s the only Clippers All-Star. Forcing Leonard to do this would be one form of cruel and unusual punishment for his role in the ongoing Aspiration scandal. The Clipper comes out and awaits the first challenger.

MORE: Key details to know from Kawhi Leonard’s ‘Aspiration’ investigation

2. Jamal Crawford

A beloved Clipper, the former three-time Sixth Man of the Year is the first surprise in store for a home crowd wondering who might emerge from the tunnel. Crawford’s one-on-one wizardry fits perfectly with this game and he promptly knocks out Leonard.

3. Kelsey Plum

Our first WNBA player! Sparks superstar Kelsey Plum adds to the L.A. host vibes and the crowd goes wild as she immediately drains a shot right in Crawford’s mug. Crawford’s not taking it lightly though and scores to stay on.

4. Blake Griffin

The crowd goes absolutely ballistic for Griffin who takes a full two minutes for his entrance, accompanied by Snoop Dogg belting California Love. Griffin dunks, stuffs Crawford and then dunks again to become the champ.

5. VJ Edgecombe

Our first non-LA rep is none other than rookie sensation VJ Edgecombe, who is predicting big things for the 76ers. Not merely relegated to the Rising Stars game, Edgecombe immediately makes an impression by yamming right in Griffin’s grill. As much as the crowd yearns for Griffin to protect home court, he can’t score on the two-way rookie who knocks out the crowd favorite. 

6. Allen Iverson

The past vs. the present in a Philly special. We might be in Los Angeles but Allen Iverson emerges from the tunnel to deafening applause. He hits the rook with a vintage crossover and acrobatic finish to everyone’s delight. All of the old hats lose it with AI immediately dapping every celebrity. Remember Shaq with the camcorder and the Michael Keaton disbelief? Those are the vibes watching Iverson hit the time machine. Unfortunately, the 50-year-old has no answer for the Sixers‘ rising star.

7. Hot Sauce

We’re bringing back the And-1 mixtape tour and its not just Hot Sauce. He’s joined by The Professor and Half Man Half Amazing, rocking the signature shorts and firing t-shirt cannons with ‘Too Small’ gear into the stands. Hot Sauce hits him with ‘The Hurricane’, baptizing an entire generation in real time with an iconic streetball move. Incredibly, Hot Sauce gets a stop then buries a step-back 3 for the W. AND1 is so back.

8. Skip 2 My Lou

What’s better than one streetball legend? How about two, including the GOAT who took it mainstream. With Duke Tango on the mic and flanked by Spyda and Main Event, Rafer Alston a.k.a. Skip 2 My Lou brings the crowd to its feet. This is where it starts to feel more WWE than NBA with Skip 2 My Lou and Hot Sauce recreating a scene straight out of the AND1 Mixtape Tour (and infinitely more entertaining than Kevin Hart).

Alston wins, crowning a new champ.

9. Kon Kneuppel

After a run of Iverson, Hot Sauce and Skip 2 My Lou, out comes a second rookie sensation, Kon Kneuppel. But he’s not alone either! The Flying Kneuppels are out in full force as he’s joined by all four of his younger brothers. Admittedly, this would play so much harder in Charlotte. Nevertheless, Kneuppel shines in ways the Plumlees never could, winning over the crowd and roasting Skip 2 My Lou with some hot sauce of his own.

MORE: Inside Kneuppel’s quest for a historic rookie 50-40-90 season

10. Cooper Flagg

The rookie showdown everyone wants to see with the former college teammates removing the Hornets and Mavericks jerseys in favor of Duke blue. Both of them want it bad, leading to a highly competitive game with multiple stops by both. Eventually, Flagg gets the upper hand and unseats Kneuppel.

11. Angel Reese

The Bayou Barbie goes full over-the-top boxer entrance. Massive gold crown, carried in on a palanquin with Cardi B and Latto escorting her while performing Put It On Da Floor, a nod to Reese’s cameo in the music video. Sadly, in a contest with no me-bounds, Reese stands no chance and falls immediately to Flagg.

12. Quentin Richardson

Its time for another Clipper and this time it’s Q-Rich with the signature headband! Playing into the genuine love from a nostalgic home crowd, Richardson has the entire crowd doing the head tap after drilling a 3. Flagg, however, came to play and goes right into Richardson’s chest, posterizing with a flex.

13. Darius Miles

The script writers were definitely dreaming of a Knuckleheads showdown. Darius Miles sprints out but is DQ’d when Q-Rich runs back out on the floor to blindside Flagg with a backscreen as Miles flushes it for a dunk that doesn’t count. The delirious crowd doesn’t care and everyone loses it.

14. Norman Powell

Make it three straight Clippers… sort of! First-time All-Star Norman Powell, rocking a custom half-Heat, half-Clippers jersey, emerges from the tunnel to take on Flagg. Powell isn’t too proud to try hard and gives Flagg an honest effort before also falling to the rook. Five straight wins for Flagg!

15. Carmelo Anthony

Of all the recently retired players, Carmelo Anthony might have the highest Q-rating across the broadest spectrum of fans. If the NBA Royal Rumble existed during Anthony’s heyday, he would have been a monster. WWE superstar Kane was never the best overall wrestler but he holds the Royal Rumble record for most appearances and eliminations. Anthony would have been to the NBA Royal Rumble what Kane was for WWE. Unfortunately, he too can’t jab-step jumper his way from 19 feet out to topple Flagg.

16. Michael Beasley

Nobody — and I mean absolutely NOBODY — talks a bigger 1-on-1 game than Michael Beasley, who claims he used to cook LeBron James in practice. Like Anthony, Beasley would have been a mainstay in this event in his prime and there’s a decent chance he could have won a few times. I don’t think 37-year-old Beasley is cooking with enough gas to get by Flagg though. Seven straight!

17. Devin Booker

OK at this point, the crowd would be losing its mind for the rookie. Just imagine if we were in Dallas! Out comes Booker, a fierce competitor in his own right. The Kardasian curse continues, however, as Booker — in front of NBA hoophead Timothee Chalamet and Kylie Jenner sitting courtside — gets cooked by Flagg.

18. Luka Doncic

‘COOPER, COOPER, COOPER!’ At this point, the Intuit Dome crowd is losing its mind. Someone is going to beat the rookie phenom eventually… right?

Who better to do it than the man replaced by Flagg in Dallas. I’m sorry but Luka Doncic walking out to face off against Flagg 1-on-1 beats anything actually going down at All-Star weekend. Doncic may not be motivated to go far nor does he even have a reason to dislike Flagg, but let’s be honest, this opportunity would bring out the best in him. Doncic dethrones an exhausted Flagg and then the two hug it out before the rook takes his current call.

MORE: Debunking every sad excuse Mavs made after trading Luka Doncic

19. JJ Redick

Here comes JJ Redick and the Clippers crowd loves it! He might be Doncic’s coach with the Lakers, but Redick will always hold a special place in the hearts and minds of Clipper fans. If this was truly WWE, Redick would pull a Hollywood Hogan and rip off his Lakers jersey to reveal a Clippers jersey. Nevertheless, actually coaching the Lakers might make that a step too far.

An all-time trash talker, you know Redick would give anything to forever hold this over Doncic. The result? The upset of the event. If you thought Redick giving Doncic grief for his wardrobe was bad enough, wait and see how this plays out in the coming weeks.

20. Baron Davis

Another Clippers’ legend the crowd can get behind. Redick, amped up after taking out Luka, hangs on to win a second straight game with a long dagger to drop B-Diddy.

21. Diana Taurasi

The arena goes dark. There’s a ‘Greatest of All-Time’ audio track that plays with literal goats populating the video board.

Boom. Here comes Diana Taurasi, wearing a ‘Mambacita’ jersey. Sure, its the Clippers’ arena but this blows the absolute roof off. Taurasi, who Kobe Bryant famously claimed could play in the NBA, takes out Redick.

22. Caitlin Clark

The women have officially taken over. What’s the only to top Taurasi? THAT’S CAITLIN CLARK’S MUSIC!

Clark skips out, gets the crowd going, and immediately pulls up from 30+ feet. After Taurasi misses, Clark crosses up the GOAT, steps back, smiles, points and cans a second three. The two dap with Taurasi lifting up Clark’s victorious hand like a boxer.

23. Reggie Miller

NBC analyst Reggie Miller, on the call this entire time court side, rips off the headset and suit to reveal that iconic No. 31 Pacers jersey. We’ve had the Philly showdown with Edgecombe and Iverson, the Duke showdown with Flagg and Kneuppel… and now its Indiana’s turn. Lots of jawing back and forth. Reggie tries his famous rip through but Clark strips him… and then immediately sends him packing with a taste of his own medicine, leg kick and all.

 

Look at Caitlin Clark’s face after Reggie compared her to Payton Pritchard 😂 pic.twitter.com/QYPsEozWbV

— Corner Three Media (@Corner3Media) February 7, 2026

 

24. Payton Pritchard

As Clark and Miller embrace, they look up at the jumbotron which is now showing that viral clip of Clark’s NBC announcing debut with Miller comparing Clark to Payton Pritchard.

So who comes out next? Payton Pritchard! After scoring, the two trade a few misses before Clark finally gets one to go, giving Miller the death stare after eliminating the Celtic. Three straight wins for Clark who now as the crowd chanting M-V-P.

25. Victor Wembanyama

Victor Wembanyama has let it be known he intends to play hard in All-Star games. We’ll see! Wembanyama’s entrance marks the beginning of the final push as the 25th of 30 contestants in the field. Towering over the 6’0″ Clark, the two give off serious Yao and Nate Robinson vibes. The images of Wemby casually catching one of Clark’s step-back 3s mid-air and then backing her down to dunk go viral immediately.

26. Shaquille O’Neal

After years of calling today’s centers soft, Shaq decides its time to put his money where his mouth is. No stranger to WWE, Shaq enters and goes straight to Wemby for the full nose-to-nose stare down which lasts a full 60 seconds. The HOF’er tries to bully Wembanyama who stands his ground and smothers O’Neals first attempt on the block. He then makes Shaq fall down while trying to guard him on the perimeter, offering a not-so-subtle reminder that today’s bigs are built different. Shaq gives Wemby his props before taking his stop on the sides.

27. Anthony Edwards

As Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Born in the USA’ blares, out comes Anthony Edwards carrying an American flag while rocking a Team USA basketball jersey. Joining him? 2026 Olympics hero Stephen Curry along with five members of the original Dream Team — Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing and Chris Mullin. 

With the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, Ant takes the mic and sizes up Wembanyama, offering a direct challenge to the Frenchman who once again projects as the USA’s biggest challenger. 

This is the first truly hot contested battle, both superstars badly wanting to send a message. Edwards successfully detrones Wembanyama who backpedals off the court, yelling something about payback in French.

Donald Trump immediately posts to Truth Social.

28. Tyrese Maxey 

Out comes Allen Iverson for the second time… this time escorting Tyrese Maxey!

Maxey and Edwards, who might both be First-Team All-NBA guards, square off with Edwards prevailing for his second straight win.

29. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

All of the sudden, ‘O Canada’ starts playing over the PA system with the crowd immediately countering with ‘USA, USA, USA’. Former Clipper Shai Gilgeous-Alexander comes out, also with an entourage, fellow Team Canada stars Jamal Murray, Dillon Brooks and Andrew Wiggins. NBA Royal Rumble has officially lit the fuse for the 2028 Olympics, still more than two years away.

The reigning MVP baits Ant into three straight fouls, getting the ball up top to reset each time with the crowd booing him mercilessly. SGA scores, Ant misses and SGA gets another to go, unseating Edwards and setting up the final showdown.

30. LeBron James

“Last name ever, first name greatest.” Pause. The instrumental picks up, Drake emerges and starts over again with LeBron James in tow. Naturally, he TOO isn’t walking out alone. Donning the St. Vincent St. Mary’s thread, James is joined by the original crew — Dru Joyce III, Romeo Travis, Sian Cotton and Willie McGee — along with Maverick Carter and Rich Paul.

Did the NBA rig it for LeBron? Probably!

Does anyone care? Not even in the slightest.

James makes up for never participating in the dunk contest by memorably taking it to Gilgeous-Alexander, delivering the best All-Star moment of his career and hitting the crowd with ‘the Silencer’ after hitting the game-winning shot.

You can’t tell me this isn’t 100 times better than what we’re getting at the actual All-Star weekend festivities.

NBA script writers, get to work.