2026 NBA All-Star Game Starters: A Look at the Chosen Players
Los Angeles to Host 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend
Los Angeles has been selected to host the 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend, set to take place from February 12 to 15. This eagerly awaited event will culminate in the All-Star Game on Sunday, February 15, at the Intuit Dome, home of the LA Clippers.
The announcement of the starters for the game was made on Monday, coinciding with a matchup between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Notably, of the selected starters, five are international players, highlighting the game’s global appeal.
Event Details
The NBA All-Star weekend activities will run from February 12 to 15, with the main event beginning at 2 p.m. local time on February 15 at the Intuit Dome.
This year, the NBA is introducing a new format for the All-Star Game that features competition between teams representing the USA and the world. The format includes two teams of U.S. players and one team of international stars. NBA officials indicated that the teams would engage in a round-robin tournament involving four 12-minute games. Following these preliminary games, the two top teams will proceed to a championship showdown.
Another significant change this year is that All-Star selections will be made without regard to player positions.
Selection Process for All-Stars
The starters for the All-Star Game are chosen through a combination of fan votes (50%), a media panel (25%), and players (25%). Recently, the NBA released a list showing the players garnering the most fan votes, with Luka Dončić of the LA Lakers and Giannis Antetokounmpo leading in their respective conferences.
Selected Starters
The ten starters for the 2026 All-Star Game, announced on Monday, are as follows:
Western Conference Starters:
- Nikola Jokić (Denver Nuggets)
- Luka Dončić (Los Angeles Lakers)
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder)
- Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors)
- Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs)
Eastern Conference Starters:
- Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks)
- Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks)
- Cade Cunningham (Detroit Pistons)
- Tyrese Maxey (Philadelphia 76ers)
- Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics)
Among these starters, Jokic, Doncic, Gilgeous-Alexander, Wembanyama, and Antetokounmpo stand out as international stars. The NBA’s coaches will select 14 reserves at a later date. If the final selections do not include at least 16 U.S. players and eight international players, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver will appoint additional All-Stars.
The upcoming All-Star Weekend promises to be a spectacular celebration of basketball, showcasing some of the sport’s most outstanding talent on an international stage.
