CORTIS Officially Named “Friends of the NBA,” Making History as the First K-Pop Group at NBA All-Star

MUFFINTOSAY.COM - There’s exciting news for COER around the world. CORTIS—a group known since debut for boldly stepping outside the lines—has officially made history on the global stage. Not only through music that continues to push boundaries, but also through a prestigious collaboration that brings them together with one of the most influential sports leagues in the world: the NBA. This announcement is more than just another headline; it marks a major milestone in CORTIS’s rapidly accelerating journey, with COER witnessing a defining moment that will be remembered for years to come.

The official announcement from the National Basketball Association (NBA) and BIGHIT MUSIC confirming CORTIS’s inclusion in the “Friends of the NBA” program is one such moment. This collaboration is not simply about a K-pop group partnering with the world’s biggest basketball league. It represents the convergence of music, sports, pop culture, and a new generation of global fans within a single shared narrative.

For CORTIS—comprised of Martin, James, Juhoon, SeongHyeon, and Keonho—this news marks a pivotal chapter in a career that is still remarkably young. Having debuted only in September 2025, the group has already stepped onto a global stage typically reserved for long-established names. CORTIS is now recognized not just as a promising newcomer in K-pop, but also as a symbol of the meeting point between two global cultural powerhouses: K-pop and the NBA.

This collaboration also cements CORTIS as the first K-pop group ever to perform at NBA All-Star, a historic achievement that expands the meaning of sports entertainment in the modern era.

NBA and BIGHIT MUSIC—HYBE Corporation’s music label known as home to several global icons—officially announced that CORTIS has joined the “Friends of the NBA” program. This initiative brings Asian celebrities and influencers into direct involvement with league activities. It is far more than a symbolic partnership. Participants attend games, take part in NBA events, engage in exclusive content, and contribute to the development of official NBA merchandise and apparel.

Public attention, however, quickly focused on one standout detail: CORTIS will perform at NBA All-Star 2026. The group has been confirmed as one of the performers at NBA Crossover, the league’s flagship entertainment festival that blends basketball, music, and pop culture. The event will take place from February 12 to 15, 2026 (U.S. time) at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

This is where history will be made. On the opening night of NBA Crossover, February 12, 2026, CORTIS is scheduled to take center stage as the main act. With this appearance, they officially become the first K-pop group to perform as part of the NBA All-Star festivities—a milestone not only for the group, but also for the long-term relationship between the NBA and the K-pop industry.

Los Angeles, a city long regarded as a crossroads of global pop culture, will bear witness to the meeting of next-generation K-pop energy and the competitive, creative atmosphere of the NBA.

The name CORTIS itself is more than a catchy title. It is derived from the phrase “COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES,” a philosophy that reflects the group’s commitment to thinking and creating beyond established boundaries. This mindset has been at the core of CORTIS’s identity from the very beginning.

As the first boy group to debut under BIGHIT MUSIC in six years, expectations were high from the start. Yet rather than playing it safe, CORTIS chose a fresh and distinctive approach. Their music blends modern K-pop with experimental elements, spanning visuals, concepts, and narrative storytelling.

Their debut EP, COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES, released globally on September 8, 2025, immediately made waves. The album debuted at No. 15 on the Billboard 200, making CORTIS the only rookie group of 2025 to enter one of the most prestigious album charts in the United States. Within its first month, the EP surpassed 100 million streams, while the group’s fanbase grew rapidly to over 17 million followers across TikTok and Instagram.

International media took notice as well. Rolling Stone named CORTIS’s debut “the coolest K-pop debut of 2025,” further solidifying their status as one of the most exciting new faces in global K-pop.
CORTIS’s inclusion in the “Friends of the NBA” program did not happen by chance. Both the NBA and CORTIS embody a shared spirit of creativity, boldness, and the ability to transcend geographic and cultural boundaries.

In an official statement, CORTIS described the achievement as something they had never imagined at such an early stage of their career. They pointed to a natural connection between their music and the NBA’s long-standing reputation for pushing limits, both on and off the court.

Wayne Chang, Managing Director of NBA Asia, emphasized that the collaboration highlights the powerful synergy between sports and music. According to him, K-pop reflects many of the same values upheld by the NBA: the ability to inspire, encourage creativity, and build a strong global fanbase. Through CORTIS, the NBA aims to celebrate artistry in both basketball and K-pop while creating fresh, memorable experiences for audiences worldwide.

This statement underscores that the partnership is not merely a marketing move, but part of the NBA’s long-term vision to embrace Asian pop culture—particularly K-pop, whose global influence continues to grow.

The NBA’s collaboration with CORTIS also follows a broader trend. In recent years, the league’s relationship with K-pop has steadily deepened. It began with BTS’s SUGA being appointed as an NBA Ambassador in 2023, followed by LE SSERAFIM and ENHYPEN joining the “Friends of the NBA” program in 2024 and 2025.

Each collaboration has brought its own color and character, all rooted in the same goal: positioning the NBA as more than a sports league, but as a global cultural ecosystem. The addition of CORTIS strengthens this narrative and signals a new chapter led by a bold, high-energy rookie group.

For K-pop fans, this collaboration offers a chance to see their idols in an entirely new space. For NBA fans, it opens a gateway into music and culture that may once have felt distant. And for the global younger generation, it stands as a symbol of how the boundaries between sports and entertainment continue to blur.

NBA Crossover itself has evolved into far more than a companion event to NBA All-Star. It is a meeting ground for basketball, music, fashion, and community—where fans don’t just watch games, but celebrate the lifestyle shaped by basketball culture.

With CORTIS headlining the opening night, NBA Crossover 2026 is expected to draw even broader attention, particularly from the international K-pop community. Beyond the main performance, CORTIS is also scheduled to take part in additional NBA All-Star events, with further details to be announced.

Tickets for NBA Crossover are now available through NBAEvents, offering a range of options including VIP packages that provide exclusive stage access and early entry. Fan excitement has been evident since the initial announcement, signaling strong anticipation for the meeting of CORTIS and the NBA.

CORTIS’s role as “Friends of the NBA” is not a finish line, but a starting point for a wider series of collaborations. In the future, fans can expect exclusive content, official NBA merchandise created in collaboration with CORTIS, and various promotional activities that blend the identities of both sides.

For CORTIS, this partnership is an opportunity to further expand their narrative as a group unafraid to “color outside the lines.” For the NBA, it represents a strategic move to remain relevant amid the shifting landscape of global entertainment.

In an increasingly connected world, collaborations like this prove that music and sports share a universal language. And when CORTIS steps onto the NBA All-Star stage in Los Angeles this coming February, they will bring not only their music, but also the spirit of a new generation ready to cross boundaries—wherever those lines may be.