The 2023 NBA All-Star Game will air on TNT on Sunday, February 19. Most TV providers offer TNT, though we recommend Sling TV for its inexpensive plans that start at $40 a month—especially if you only want access to the All-Star Game.
Featuring some of the best NBA players of the year, the 2023 All-Star Game is the league’s 72nd showcase of its kind. But it’s not the only marquee NBA event taking place in February. There’s an entire weekend—aptly named the NBA All-Star Weekend—with activities centered around all things basketball.
Keep scrolling for a complete rundown of the NBA All-Star Game—including the 2023 NBA All-Star Weekend schedule.
What channel is the 2023 NBA All-Star Game on?
The 2023 NBA All-Star Game will air on TNT in the US and TSN in Canada. TBS will also present an alternate US broadcast featuring Inside the NBA’s Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith, and Draymond Green.
You’ll need a cable, satellite, or live TV streaming service subscription to get TNT and TBS. We highlight several popular providers that carry the two channels in our Best All-Star Game TV plans section below.
Pro tip: US and Canada-based viewers using NBA League Pass won’t be able to watch the All-Star Game live through the service. Instead, you’ll need a separate TV plan to access TNT—or TSN if you’re in Canada.
NBA All-Star Weekend schedule
| Event | Date | Time (ET) | Location | Channels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NBA All-Star Celebrity Game | Friday, February 17 | 7:00 p.m. | Jon M. Huntsman Center | ESPN |
| NBA Rising Stars Game | Friday, February 17 | 9:00 p.m. | Vivint Arena | TNT |
| NBA All-Star Practice | Saturday, February 18 | 1:00 p.m. | Jon M. Huntsman Center | NBA TV |
| NBA HBCU Classic | Saturday, February 18 | 4:00 p.m. | Jon M. Huntsman Center | TNT, ESPN2, NBA TV |
| All-Star Saturday Night | Saturday, February 18 | 8:00 p.m. | Vivint Arena | TNT |
| NBA Legends Awards | Sunday, February 19 | 1:00 p.m. | — | NBA TV, NBA app |
| NBA G League Next Up Game | Sunday, February 19 | 3:00 p.m. | Jon M. Huntsman Center | NBA TV |
| All-Star Draft | Sunday, February 19 | 7:30 p.m. | Vivint Arena | TNT |
| NBA All-Star Game | Sunday, February 19 | 8:00 p.m. | Vivint Arena | TNT, TBS |
Data effective as of post date.
Best TV plans for watching the NBA All-Star Game
If you already have a cable, satellite, or live TV streaming service, your TV plan may already include TNT. But for those without an existing TV subscription, we recommend signing up for Sling TV.
Starting at $40 a month, Sling TV offers the best value for watching the NBA, and that’s no different for the NBA All-Star Game. It’s an inexpensive live TV streaming service, and TNT is included in every plan. You can also get ESPN channels if you choose the Sling Orange plan ($40 a month) or the Sling Orange & Blue plan ($55 a month). There’s also the Sports Extra add-on for $11 a month, which gets you even more sports channels like NBA TV and several college conference networks.
If you’re not willing to commit to a TV plan just to watch a single game, we’ve also come up with some free options. More on that later.
Which TV providers offer TNT and the NBA All-Star Game?
Most TV providers offer TNT and TBS. The main exception is fuboTV, which doesn’t carry any Turner Sports channels—TNT, TBS, and truTV. That’s a big deal breaker for NBA and college basketball fans.
We’ve created a table below to illustrate which popular TV providers carry TNT and TBS.
| Provider | Type | TNT | TBS | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cox | Cable | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read Cox review |
| DIRECTV | Satellite | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read DIRECTV review |
| DIRECTV STREAM | Streaming | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read DIRECTV STREAM review |
| DISH | Satellite | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read DISH review |
| fuboTV | Streaming | — | — |
View plans Read fuboTV review |
| Hulu + Live TV | Streaming | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read Hulu + Live TV review |
| Optimum | Cable | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read Optimum review |
| Philo | Streaming | — | — |
View plans Read Philo review |
| Sling TV | Streaming | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read Sling TV review |
| Spectrum | Cable | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read Spectrum review |
| Vidgo | Streaming | — | — |
View plans Read Vidgo review |
| Xfinity | Cable | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read Xfinity review |
| YouTube TV | Streaming | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read YouTube TV review |
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
How to watch the 2023 NBA All-Star Game for free
Sadly, there’s no way to access TNT to watch the NBA All-Star Game without signing up for a TV plan. But some live TV streaming services offer free trials, so you can get the NBA All-Star Game and other All-Star Weekend coverage without paying a monthly fee. Usually, YouTube TV provides a lengthy free trial that you can take advantage of.
If you go this route, just remember to cancel your subscription before the end of your trial period to avoid paying for the next month. Also, most free trials only apply to new subscribers. If you signed up for the service before, you’d need to use a different email address and payment method.
What is the NBA All-Star Game?
The NBA All-Star Game is an annual exhibition game that began in 1951. While its format has changed over the years, the game’s original intent remains the same: to see the league’s best players compete against each other regardless of team affiliation.
Like in MLB and the NHL, All-Star Game rosters are decided based on a voting process. Fans, media members, current players, and current head coaches vote for players in specific positions. Ultimately, 12 players from each conference are selected.
The player with the most votes from each conference becomes the team captain. Then, the other 11 players from each conference enter the NBA All-Star Draft, where the two captains select their teammates. It’s a lot like playing basketball during recess, but only if your team had a combined net worth in the billions.
While the game doesn’t impact player statistics, money is donated to the chosen charity of each team based on which team leads each quarter and which team wins the game.
Final take
You’ll need TNT or TBS to watch the NBA All-Star Game. Luckily, both channels are available from most TV providers—the notable exception being fuboTV. Our favorite NBA-oriented TV service based on value is Sling TV. With it, you’ll get TNT and other sports channels for as low as $40 a month.
If you want to watch more NBA All-Star Weekend events, you’ll need a TV plan that includes ESPN and NBA TV. With those channels, you can catch the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game and the NBA G League Next Up Game.
How to watch the NBA All-Star Game FAQ
Where is the 2023 NBA All-Star Game?
The 2023 NBA All-Star Game will occur at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Sunday, February 19. Home of the Utah Jazz, the arena previously hosted the 1993 All-Star Game when it was known as the Delta Center.
Where can I watch the NBA All-Star Game online?
You can stream the NBA All-Star Game on TNT by signing into TNT’s website or app with an existing TV provider login. You can also stream the game through a live TV streaming service such as Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV, and YouTube TV.
How can I watch the NBA All-Star Game for free?
One of the only ways to watch the NBA All-Star Game for free is to sign up for a free trial of a live TV streaming service that offers TNT. YouTube TV currently offers a free trial that’ll get you TNT.
Is the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game on TV?
Yes, ESPN will air the 2023 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game at 7:00 p.m. ET on Friday, February 17. Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith and former NBA champion Dwayne Wade will captain the celebrity teams, featuring a mix of athletes, actors, musicians, and TV personalities.
Methodology
In this article, our basketball experts researched the best ways to watch the NBA All-Star Game and other NBA All-Star Weekend events. Because the All-Star Game is only available on pay television networks, we primarily compared services based on price and availability.
Check out our How We Rank page to learn more about our methods.
