13 Feb 2026 GMT+7 — "CORTIS" is currently regarded as the "Super Rookie," the hottest new group of the year under the major label BIGHIT MUSIC (a HYBE subsidiary), which also represents global stars like BTS and TXT. The group consists of five members: Martin, Joohoon, Seonghyeon, Gonho, and James (a Taiwanese-Thai member).
They were invited to perform during halftime at the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, part of the National Basketball Association (NBA) events held in the United States.
This is the first time a K-pop artist has performed at the halftime stage of the NBA All-Star Weekend, one of the most globally watched sporting events, broadcast to over 200 countries, and a moment closely followed by sports fans and celebrities from various industries.
A global stage for sports and pop culture.
The NBA is not just a professional basketball league but a global entertainment brand that has long connected sports with music, fashion, and contemporary culture, especially during the All-Star Weekend, which features concerts, special shows, and major entertainment events.
CORTIS’s selection to perform on this stage reflects the clear fusion of sports and K-pop, reinforcing the growing role of Asian artists in the expanding American market.
Why CORTIS?
Although a relatively new group, CORTIS is seen as one of the fastest-growing emerging artists, with a distinctive image, strong performances, and an international fanbase.
Choosing CORTIS aligns with the NBA's strategy to expand its fan base among younger audiences and the Asian market, where K-pop has significant influence. Performing at the NBA stage is a crucial opportunity to boost the group’s profile in the U.S. and solidify their status as a "global rising star."
Their debut album, Color Outside the Lines, reached number 15 on the Billboard 200 chart—a high rank for a rookie group—highlighting their rapidly growing fanbase in America.
Their song "GO!" was selected as the official soundtrack (OST) for the NBA 2K26 game (Season 4), played by hundreds of millions worldwide, making the group’s name familiar to basketball fans.
Additionally, CORTIS has been officially appointed as "Friends of the NBA" to help promote the NBA in the Asia-Pacific region.