CORTIS took the stage on February 14 (KST) at 2026 Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Gameheld at the Kia Forum. THE Celebrity Game is one of the flagship events of National Basketball Association All-Star Weekendwith teams made up of athletes, actors, musicians and other public figures. This marks the first time a Korean artist has performed in the history of the event.
Introduced by the host as a “K-pop sensation who took the Billboard charts by storm,” CORTIS received thunderous applause from the crowd, reportedly louder than the reactions to the scoring plays during the match itself. The five-member group energized the arena with back-to-back performances of their signature songs “GO!” and “Fashion”. Despite being rookies, CORTIS demonstrated a commanding stage presence, leaving a strong impression on sports fans. Audience members were even seen singing along to the catchy chorus sections.
The group’s momentum in the United States had already been building before the halftime show. On February 13th CORTIS was the protagonist of the NBA crossover concert series at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The concert sold out, attracting fans of different races, genders and age groups.
Both the official NBA All-Star and Billboard social media accounts highlighted the performance. In the featured clips, fans shared comments like, “I came here to see CORTIS,” praising the group “passion and explosive energy” and describing them as “stimulating” with “something uniquely different from traditional K-pop.”
CORTIS is also actively promoting the league as part of the “Friends of the NBA” initiative. During a broadcast of Los Angeles Lakers vs. Dallas Mavericks match on February 13, local commentators even mentioned the group, with one observation: “My favorite K-pop group is CORTIS. After seeing them in person today, my ranking has changed.” The comment quickly spread across social media, further highlighting the group’s growing influence.
With their innovation NBA All-Star Weekend aspect, CORTIS has not only raised its global profile, but also opened new doors for K-pop artists on major international sports stages.
Sources: Daum | OSEN
