2026 NBA All-Star: Biggest surprises and snubs as full rosters revealed

As February unfolds, the 2026 NBA All-Star Game approaches in just two weeks. The starters were revealed on January 19, featuring Luka Doncic, Stephen Curry, Nikola Jokic, Victor Wembanyama, and reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander from the West. The East starters include Jalen Brunson, Cade Cunningham, Jaylen Brown, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Tyrese Maxey.

The reserves were disclosed on Sunday, highlighting LeBron James and Kevin Durant from the West, alongside Donovan Mitchell and Karl-Anthony Towns from the East.

ESPN NBA Insiders Zach Kram and Kevin Pelton analyze the complete East and West rosters, spotlighting notable surprises and snubs, and offer their bold predictions.

Which player surprised you the most on the roster?

Pelton: While LeBron James stands out, seeing Karl-Anthony Towns named was unexpected considering the skepticism surrounding his performance this season along with the Knicks’ recent struggles. I believe teammate Mikal Bridges has been New York’s second-best player after Jalen Brunson. even with Towns’ history, this selection is reasonable but still surprising.

Kram: LeBron. Though it seems odd to be surprised about a player who’s made the last 21 All-Star games, considering James missed the first month and his stats have declined this season at age 41, along with stiff competition in the Western Conference, it was quite a surprise that his name was the last one revealed during the All-Star roster announcement.

Which player were you most surprised to see left off?

Pelton: Kawhi Leonard. This could be a secret backlash following the NBA’s investigation into his endorsement deal with Aspiration, but it’s baffling. Leonard has been among the top-10 players this season, and after a rough start, the LA Clippers have become one of the league’s hottest teams since Christmas. I would have chosen Anthony Edwards as the only West reserve over Leonard. If I had to pick a multi-time Finals MVP in L.A., Leonard would have been an obvious choice over James.

Kram: Alperen Sengun, a first-time All-Star last season, has shown improvement as a defender and boasts better stats this year, contributing to the Houston Rockets’ impressive point differential in the West. New Rocket Kevin Durant is a guaranteed selection, but I believe Sengun deserved to be Houston’s second All-Star, even if that meant Devin Booker missed out and the surprising Phoenix Suns failed to have any representatives.

Are we close to having enough international All-Stars for a normal USA/World 12 vs. 12 game?

Pelton: We might be closer to parity with international players than with East vs. West. A lot depends on how the NBA defines “international.” Donovan Mitchell recently expressed interest in representing Panama, his grandmother’s birthplace. Should the NBA encourage similar claims, like Kyrie Irving (born in Australia but raised in the U.S.), they could reach 12 without undermining the All-Star distinction.

Kram: There are nearly enough deserving international players for a 12-person roster; if today’s criteria applied, the eight confirmed international All-Stars could be supplemented by Sengun, Lauri Markkanen, Franz Wagner (despite limited playing time), and Joel Embiid. (Embiid, born in Cameroon, plays for Team USA internationally; the NBA could potentially categorize Towns, born in New Jersey but representing the Dominican Republic, as an international player.) Josh Giddey, OG Anunoby, and Dillon Brooks also have potential cases.

but, those individuals generally don’t present better All-Star cases than the ninth to twelfth best Americans, so I wouldn’t suggest such a major change just yet. Let’s assess how this year’s three-team format (two American, one international) plays out before contemplating another shift in the All-Star structure.

Share a bold prediction for the All-Star Game/mini-tournament.

Pelton: The NBA benefits short-term from altering the format. Initially, team drafts and the introduction of a target score (also known as the “Elam ending”) led to more competitive games, which have since regressed into defense-free play. I believe the international team will, in particular, take the competition seriously, compelling their American counterparts to elevate their performance. Nevertheless, I don’t foresee this or any other change solving the All-Star Game’s long-term issues.

Kram: Victor Wembanyama will secure MVP honors. Big men have rarely won this recognition at the All-Star game — it has gone to guards or wings 13 of the last 15 years, with only Anthony Davis and Giannis Antetokounmpo as exceptions. but, Wembanyama’s competitive nature will give him an edge simply by approaching the event with seriousness. Last year, in his first All-Star game, he led his team in scoring (11 points in seven minutes), and he and Chris Paul were disqualified for attempting to exploit a loophole in the skills challenge.