With the 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend set to light up Los Angeles, one of the city’s most decorated champions is shining a spotlight on the next generation. Robert Horry - a seven-time NBA champion and a key piece of three different dynasties - knows a thing or two about winning. And as the league’s brightest stars descend on Tinseltown, Horry’s got his eye on some names that might not be household yet, but are making serious noise.
Let’s start with Norman Powell, who’s finally getting his All-Star due at age 32. Horry, now a studio analyst for Spectrum SportsNet, sees something familiar in Powell - a guy who’s not always in the headlines, but whose impact is undeniable.
“I’m a huge Norman Powell fan,” Horry said. “I think he got robbed last year when he was with the Clippers.
And now he’s showing, ‘Yo, I can be in the East, I can be in the West, it don’t matter. I’m going to show you that I’m at the upper echelon of my game.’”
Powell’s putting together a career-best season with the Miami Heat, averaging 23.8 points per game while shooting a sharp .474 from the field, .396 from deep, and .843 at the line. He’s also adding 3.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.2 steals per night - all while flying under the radar on a 28-27 team that hasn’t exactly dominated the headlines.
But for a player like Horry, who made a living doing the little things that win championships, Powell’s recognition matters.
“Our league is built on the superstars,” Horry acknowledged. “But I appreciate the guys who come out and play hard each and every night but don’t get any recognition.
The All-Star Game, to me, is a way to recognize these guys. And Norman Powell is one I’m excited for.”
Rising Stars: A Trio to Watch
While Powell represents the seasoned vet finally getting his flowers, the Rising Stars Game is all about the future. And this year, three rookies are separating themselves from the pack - Charlotte’s Kon Knueppel, Dallas’ Cooper Flagg, and Philly’s V.J.
Edgecomb. Each has made a strong early case for Rookie of the Year, and according to Horry, the race might come down to opportunity as much as talent.
“I want to say Knueppel, because I think he should win Rookie of the Year,” Horry said. “But I think Cooper Flagg, the system he’s in is going to allow him to blossom a little more.”
That’s not a knock on Edgecomb or Knueppel - both of whom are showing serious upside - but rather a nod to the context around them. In Philadelphia, Edgecomb is playing behind Tyrese Maxey, Paul George, and Joel Embiid. That’s a tough lineup to break into, especially for a rookie trying to find his rhythm.
Knueppel, meanwhile, is sharing the floor with LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges, and Brandon Miller in Charlotte - a team that’s suddenly flush with young talent. Add in the recent addition of Coby White (once he’s healthy), and touches could be hard to come by.
But in Dallas? Flagg has a clearer runway.
“There’s nobody in front of him!” Horry said.
“I think his maturation’s going to be a little better because he’s going to have more room to make mistakes and learn from them. Every player learns from their mistakes and they grow from that, and I think he’s going to have that growth.”
Knueppel’s emergence has been a pleasant surprise for Charlotte, especially with Ball’s ongoing injury issues. And the Hornets’ rookie class - including Ryan Kalkbrenner and Sion James - is showing real promise.
But as Horry pointed out, development often comes down to fit and freedom. And right now, Flagg might have the best environment to grow into a star.
Defense, Development, and Staying Healthy
Horry also touched on the challenges young players face in today’s NBA - especially on the defensive end.
“The game is hard to play defense in now because guys are moving so much coming off screens,” he said. “And nowadays guys don’t really get to play defense anymore because of the way the game is called. There’s so much switching going on.”
Still, he believes players like Flagg, Edgecomb, and Knueppel have the tools to thrive - if they stay the course.
“I think [Flagg] has the ability to be one of the greatest players to play this game,” Horry said. “But he’s got to just keep grinding and stay injury-free.”
All-Star Weekend Returns to a Basketball Town
As for the host city, Horry couldn’t be happier to see All-Star Weekend back in Los Angeles - a place that’s as synonymous with hoops as any city in the world.
“I’ve always felt like it was a basketball town,” he said. “You think about a city that has a great NBA and a great college team - you think of UCLA, you think of the Lakers. So you think about all the great players that have come out of the LA area.”
He rattled off names like Russell Westbrook, James Harden, DeMar DeRozan, and Paul George - all LA natives who’ve left their mark on the league.
“You think about all the great football teams and hockey teams that’ve come through here,” Horry added, “but at the end of the day, I think basketball is king.”
And this weekend, the kingdom will be on full display - from rising rookies to long-overdue All-Stars, all under the bright lights of the city that helped shape the game.