The Detroit Lions wrapped up their 2025–26 campaign in style, defeating their former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and the Chicago Bears 19–16 in Chicago. As he has all season, Amon-Ra St. Brown played an important role in the victory and continues to be one of the franchise’s most recognizable stars.
However, on Friday, February 13, St. Brown will step away from football for a different kind of spotlight — and it’s something Lions fans may not expect.
The NFL standout is set to participate in the 2026 Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game. The NBA confirmed that St. Brown will suit up for the event, which tips off at 7 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on ESPN. The showcase will be held at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California.
St. Brown won’t be the only NFL name involved. Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen is also scheduled to play.
On St. Brown’s roster will be a mix of entertainers and sports figures, including actor Keegan-Michael Key, rapper GloRilla, ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania, former NBA champion Jeremy Lin, and actor Rome Flynn, who is the reigning MVP of the celebrity matchup. Coaching duties for the team will be handled by the Antetokounmpo brothers along with Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts.
NBA All-Star Weekend Highlights
The celebrity contest officially opens the festivities, but the headline event takes place Sunday, February 15. The 75th NBA All-Star Game will be played at the Los Angeles Clippers’ home arena in Inglewood, beginning at 5 p.m. ET.
This year introduces a new competition structure. For the first time, the league will use a “USA vs. World” round-robin format. Two American squads — Team USA Stars and Team USA Stripes — will compete alongside Team World. The NBA has continued adjusting the format in recent seasons in an effort to create a more competitive and engaging product following criticism from fans.
Each matchup will feature 12-minute games, culminating in a championship showdown between the top two teams. Players on the winning team will earn $125,000 each, while runners-up receive $50,000 and members of the third-place team collect $25,000.
Injury replacements have also reshaped the roster. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Stephen Curry will be unavailable, with Houston Rockets center Alperen Şengün and Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram stepping in.
While Lions supporters are used to seeing St. Brown shine on the gridiron, they’ll now get a chance to watch him showcase his skills on a different court altogether.
