2026 NBA All-Stars: Why the starters have been selected and who missed out

The NBA have announced the starters from both the Eastern and Western conferences for the 2026 All-Star game, set to take place in Los Angeles on February 15.

The five players deemed to have had the best season from each conference were selected by a split-voting system between fans (50%), players (25%), and media (25%).

NBA commissioner Adam Silver has drawn up a new USA vs the World format for 2026, with viewership of the event falling below six million for the first time ever the past two years.

There will be three teams of eight, two made up of American stars and a World team, with all three teams playing a 12-minute contest before the two most successful face off in a championship match.

Here, Sports News Blitz’s Oliver Powell takes a look at the 10 players voted as starters, plus some notable omissions.

Eastern Conference

Giannis Antetokounmpo

The ‘Greek Freak’ is in line for his 10th consecutive start in the All-Star game, the longest current streak in the league, and was the top vote-getter in the East.

Antetokounmpo has been the subject of trade talk all season, with the Milwaukee Bucks sitting outside the play-in tournament at 18-24, with the two-time MVP, now aged 31, looking unlikely to be able to compete for a title in Milwaukee.

Despite the rumours, Giannis has delivered on the court, averaging 28.5 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game in only 29 minutes per game amid injury trouble.

Cade Cunningham

The Pistons sit clear at the top of the Eastern conference with a 31-10 record, and their former number one draft pick Cade Cunningham earns his first career All-Star starter appearance as reward.

Cunningham is leading the Pistons to what could be their first one seed since the 2005-06 season, averaging 25.7 points and 9.8 assists, the second most in the league behind Nikola Jokic, as Detroit are running the East in a rapid turnaround from being the worst team in the league two years ago.

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Tyrese Maxey

Maxey has taken the mantle from 2023 league MVP Joel Embiid as the leader of the Philadelphia 76ers, earning his first career All-Star start and only his second appearance at the game, with the new positionless voting giving justice to players deserving of the accolade.

Maxey leads the league in minutes played, and is averaging over 30 points per game for the first time in his career as he looks to keep the Sixers afloat.

Philly sit fifth in the East, vying for a homecourt spot in the post-season, which you couldn’t put past them if Maxey keeps up his play as the third leading scorer in the league.

Jalen Brunson

‘The King of New York’ makes back-to-back All-Star starter appearances as he once again leads his Knicks in scoring at 28.1 points per game with the team third in the East.

Whilst the Knicks have struggled lately, losing 9 of their last 11 games, Brunson remains one of the premier point guards in the league for his scoring ability and leadership.

The 6’2” guard led his team to NBA Cup victory in December over the San Antonio Spurs, picking up the cup MVP and a cool $500,000 for every team-mate.

Jaylen Brown

Brown has surprisingly never been a starter at the All-Star game before, but his performances leading an unexpected two-seed Boston Celtics has finally earned the former finals MVP the start.

29.8 points per game, leading the C’s to 26-16 without fellow superstar Jayson Tatum earns Brown his flowers as one of the best wing players in the league and justifies the second-highest contract in NBA history at over $285 million.

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Western Conference

Nikola Jokic

The three-time MVP led the West in votes, having arguably his best season to date in an already illustrious career with the Denver Nuggets.

Jokic is averaging his highest ever points and assists in a season, at 29.6 and 11, while his shooting from the field is at a ridiculous 60.5%.

The Serbian superstar has been out injured since December 29, but a sixth-consecutive start is a deserved one in what is another historic season for the ‘Joker’.

Luka Doncic

Doncic leads the league in points at 33.3 a game as he is set to make his first All-Star appearance as a Los Angeles Laker. Doncic has helped the Lakers to sixth in a competitive Western conference with LeBron James (more on him later) missing significant time in his 23rd season in the league.

The Lakers star will be heading to the All-Star game for the sixth time in his eighth season, with the Slovenian still looking to add a first MVP or championship to match his generational talent.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

The Canadian had the complete season last year, winning league MVP, a championship and finals MVP, but SGA looks set to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to even greater heights this season.

Averaging 31.8 points per game, Gilgeous-Alexander helped the Thunder to a 24-1 start and still sit light years ahead of the league with their 36-8 record.

Undoubtedly the team to beat as they look to go back-to-back, SGA earns his fourth appearance at the All-Star game in LA.

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Stephen Curry

Whilst the torch seems to have been passed to a new generation of superstars, 37-year-old Stephen Curry keeps the flame going for the old guard.

‘The Chef’ makes his 12th All-Star game appearance, leading the league in made three’s per game and posting his best points average in four years at 27.4.

The Golden State Warriors sit eighth in the West, although, just two games back from the fifth seed, and Curry has shown no signs of slowing down.

Victor Wembanyama

It was only a matter of time before Wemby made his first All-Star starter appearance.

The French phenomenon has missed 14 games through injury but the San Antonio Spurs are still second in the West, with the 7’4” star averaging 24.8 points and 10.8 assists, plus just the measly 2.6 blocks per game, down 1.2 from last season.

Who missed out?

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards can feel the most aggrieved, with his team a surprise four-seed in the West and averaging 29.6 points.

Donovan Mitchell, likewise, averaging 29 points per game, can feel the same.

However, with the Cleveland Cavaliers falling from first-seed last year to seventh this season ultimately harmed his case.

It’s the first time in 22 years LeBron James is not an All-Star starter.

Although, it would’ve done the five selected players a disservice to snub them for the 41-year-old. The same logic can be applied to 37-year-old stalwart Kevin Durant.

Kawhi Leonard would’ve been a fan-favourite choice. With his home arena, the Intuit Dome playing host and having his best scoring season of his career, he indeed had a case.

However, the slow-starting Los Angeles Clippers made it a tough argument. 

The 2026 NBA All-Star event is set to take place on Sunday, February 15 in Los Angeles.

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