The starters for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game have been revealed after an extended period of voting by fans, media, and players. The reserves will be disclosed on Feb. 1.
This year introduces a new “United States versus the World” format, dividing players into three teams with eight-man rosters—two teams consisting of American players and one featuring international athletes.
Luka Doncic and Giannis Antetokounmpo topped the fan voting for their respective conferences, with several newcomers making their debut as All-Star starters, including Cade Cunningham and Tyrese Maxey. The NBA All-Star Game is scheduled for Feb. 15 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles.
Our NBA analysts evaluate the rosters, highlighting the biggest surprises, intriguing player pairings, and predictions for the full rosters.
THE 2026 ALL-STAR STARTERS ARE HERE 🤩 pic.twitter.com/4fp7KA7AkZ
— ESPN (@espn) January 19, 2026
What did the voters get right?
The decision to include three guards in the Eastern Conference starting lineup. A major change this year was the removal of positional restrictions from the ballot, and with forward Jayson Tatum sidelined, the guard pool in the East was notably stronger. Voters could have adhered to tradition and selected taller players, but they wisely chose not to. — Kevin Pelton
What did the voters get wrong?
It’s difficult to argue against Stephen Curry being named a starter. He’s undoubtedly an All-Star and has secured a starting position for the sixth successive year, but so did Anthony Edwards, who received my media vote. Edwards is posting a career-high 29.6 PPG and matches Curry in efficiency this season.
I also cast my vote for Donovan Mitchell in the East, though he seems to have garnered less attention due to the Cleveland Cavaliers’ underwhelming performance this season. yet, that shouldn’t detract from Mitchell, who is playing superbly. Regardless, both Edwards and Mitchell will participate in the All-Star Game and have a chance to start with American players divided among two teams; these concerns are more about preference than real issues. — Pelton
Which international duo are you most excited to see play together?
Antetokounmpo and Victor Wembanyama. Giannis combines exceptional size and explosiveness that earns him the nickname “The Greek Freak,” but standing next to Wemby, he appears almost guard-like. Witnessing the Freak and “the Alien” together in an All-Star environment promises exciting dunks from all angles. Plus, Wemby boasts one of the league’s finest shooting strokes, making it a treat to envision Giannis drawing defenders and dishing out assists for the three-pointer.
In terms of defense—if they choose to employ it—their rim protection could be phenomenal. Their contrasting styles only heighten the excitement, and both Giannis and Wemby are fiercely competitive; if their energy rubs off on one another, expect some All-Star magic. — Andre Snellings
Which American duo are you most excited to see play together?
Curry and Tyrese Maxey. Once the complete roster is unveiled, I might consider swapping Maxey for Anthony Edwards, but the pairing of Curry’s unmatched shooting range with Maxey’s incredible speed is bound to be entertaining—especially in an All-Star setting.
The international team, if everyone participates, will likely boast significant size advantages with Antetokounmpo, Wembanyama, and Nikola Jokic on the court, while the American lineups are expected to lean heavily on guards, creating an interesting contrast in styles. — Tim Bontemps
What should the league do about LeBron James’ 21-year All-Star streak?
If James is healthy, he deserves a spot in the All-Star Game. Simply put, is he among the top 12 American players in the league? Absolutely. Are the Lakers relevant in the Western Conference? Yes. Are his stats deserving of consideration? At 22.6/5.9/6.9 with a shooting percentage of 50.9, the answer is yes.
Considering that this game will be in L.A., potentially making it James’ farewell, it’s a clear choice to include him.
If coaches opt not to vote James in as a reserve, then the decision is left to Adam Silver to include him in the lineup. There could be lingering frustrations from the league regarding last year’s situation—rightly so—since James reported to San Francisco but ultimately withdrew due to lingering foot and ankle issues.
If he had made the decision to sit out earlier, a deserving player could have taken his place. That scenario should have been handled better.
yet, in the grand scheme, as the league strives to maintain the All-Star Game’s relevance, a core aim is to tribute legends nearing retirement. Consider Michael Jordan in Atlanta in 2003, Kobe Bryant in Toronto in 2016, or even Dirk Nowitzki and Dwyane Wade in Charlotte in 2019, both of whom were honored by Silver as their on-court performance waned.
As long as James remains healthy, the extension of his All-Star streak to 22 years is a necessity. — Dave McMenamin
What the league is saying about the new format
The response to the new format has largely been indifferent, but there is hope that this change will lead to a more engaging game. During the 2020 All-Star Game, the introduction of a target score and the event occurring shortly after Kobe Bryant’s passing resulted in an increased competitive spirit. yet, past attempts by the league to innovate have struggled to maintain momentum.
A more pressing topic among league discussions isn’t directly related to the All-Star Game. The ongoing inquiry into the LA Clippers, owner Steve Ballmer, and Kawhi Leonard regarding possible salary cap violations might overshadow the weekend’s festivities. because the game will be hosted at Intuit Dome, Ballmer’s new venue, this investigation could become a focal point. — Bontemps
The biggest All-Star implications to know about
Recent changes to the 2017 and 2023 collective bargaining agreements have effectively diminished the financial benefits associated with All-Star selections. A prior rule from 2011 allowed first- or second-round picks to receive 30% of the salary cap in their second contracts if they had been named an All-Star starter at least twice; this is no longer a criterion for the rookie supermax, meaning Wembanyama’s starter status will not affect his future contract.
Teams are now moving away from contract incentives—even those that are unlikely to be realized—since they count toward the salary cap’s “apron.” In the last free agency, none of the players included All-Star bonuses in their contracts. Only seven players have current All-Star incentives: Kevin Durant, RJ Barrett, DeMar DeRozan, Donte DiVincenzo, Aaron Gordon, Tyler Herro, and Domantas Sabonis, none of whom were named starters.
Among the 10 All-Star starters, only Wembanyama and Jalen Brunson are not on max contracts—Wembanyama is in his third year of his rookie deal, while Brunson secured a team-friendly four-year extension worth $156.5 million in 2024. Brunson’s deal allowed New York to successfully acquire Karl-Anthony Towns, extend Mikal Bridges, and stay below the second apron this season. — Bobby Marks
Let’s project the rest of the rosters
Following Bontemps’ latest All-Star predictions, eight of the 14 remaining selections appear to be certainties: Scottie Barnes, Jalen Duren, Jalen Johnson, and Mitchell in the East; and Durant, Edwards, Jamal Murray, and Alperen Sengun in the West.
This leaves six spots available—three for each conference. The East’s open positions are likely to come down to Towns from the struggling Knicks, two potential Heat representatives in Norman Powell and Bam Adebayo, and two forwards posting impressive numbers despite being on underperforming teams: Michael Porter Jr. of the Nets and Pascal Siakam of the Pacers.
Out West, the discussions over the final spots will be more heated, with numerous strong candidates including Chet Holmgren (who has weaker stats but impressive efficiency and defensive metrics for the NBA’s top team), Devin Booker (the standout for a surprising contender), Most Improved Player frontrunner Deni Avdija, plus injured stars Kawhi Leonard and Austin Reaves, and 21-time All-Star LeBron James, who may be considered for a legacy spot despite having lesser statistics and playing time this season.
For now, my final prediction for All-Star reserves reflects not only my preferences but also who I believe will ultimately make it:
Eastern Conference:
Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors
Jalen Duren, Detroit Pistons
Jalen Johnson, Atlanta Hawks
Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers
Michael Porter Jr., Brooklyn Nets
Norman Powell, Miami Heat
Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks
Western Conference:
Deni Avdija, Portland Trail Blazers
Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns
Kevin Durant, Houston Rockets
Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City Thunder
Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets
Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets
If these selections hold, the nationality distribution would be 16 Americans and eight international players—a perfect balance—pending any injury-related changes before mid-February. — Zach Kram
