2026 NBA All Star Starters Announced as League Debuts United States vs World Format in Los Angeles

The NBA released the official list of 2026 All Star starters on Thursday, confirming a new era for the league showcase event with a United States versus World format set to debut Feb. 15 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles.

After weeks of combined voting from fans, players, and media, Luka Doncic and Giannis Antetokounmpo emerged as the top overall vote getters for their respective player pools, while Cade Cunningham and Tyrese Maxey earned their first career All Star starting nods. The reserves will be announced Feb. 1, completing the 24 player field.

This season marks a significant structural shift for the NBA All Star Game. Instead of traditional conferences, the league will form three teams with eight player rosters. Two teams will be composed entirely of American players, while the third will feature international stars. The change represents the league latest attempt to increase competitiveness and global appeal after years of declining engagement.

Removing positional designations from the ballot also altered the voting landscape. In the Eastern pool, voters selected three guards for the starting group, reflecting depth at the position and the absence of forward Jayson Tatum due to injury. The decision aligned with on court performance rather than positional convention and was widely viewed internally as a correction to past voting inefficiencies.

Stephen Curry was voted an All Star starter for the sixth consecutive season, extending his run as one of the league most consistent draws. Anthony Edwards, who is averaging a career high 29.6 points per game with comparable efficiency, narrowly missed out on a starting spot but remains a strong candidate to start depending on final team construction. Donovan Mitchell also remains firmly in the All Star picture despite Cleveland uneven season, with league evaluators noting his production has remained at an elite level.

Internationally, the pairing of Antetokounmpo and Victor Wembanyama has generated early intrigue. Wembanyama, the youngest All Star in San Antonio Spurs history after earning reserve status last season, now enters his third year as one of the league most impactful two way players. Alongside Nikola Jokic, the international roster is expected to hold a significant size advantage, creating a stylistic contrast against the guard heavy American teams.

LeBron James All Star future remains a central storyline as he seeks to extend his streak to 22 consecutive selections. In his eighth season with the Los Angeles Lakers, James is averaging 22.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 6.9 assists while shooting 50.9 percent from the field. With the event hosted in Los Angeles, league officials view his inclusion as both competitive and ceremonial, provided he is healthy. Commissioner Adam Silver retains discretion to add James if necessary, a move consistent with past legacy selections honoring stars late in their careers.

From a roster and contract perspective, the 2026 All Star Game carries limited financial implications. Recent collective bargaining agreement changes removed All Star selections from rookie supermax qualification criteria, meaning Wembanyama starter status does not impact his future extension. Only seven players across the league currently have All Star incentives written into their contracts, and none were named starters. Of the confirmed starters, only Wembanyama and Jalen Brunson are not on max deals. Brunson four year $156.5 million extension signed in 2024 continues to be cited internally as a model for roster flexibility, allowing New York to acquire Karl Anthony Towns, extend Mikal Bridges, and remain below the second apron.

As reserve selections approach, several players are viewed as near locks. In the East, Scottie Barnes, Jalen Duren, Jalen Johnson, and Donovan Mitchell headline the group, while Kevin Durant, Anthony Edwards, Jamal Murray, and Alperen Sengun lead the Western candidates. Final spots remain competitive, with injuries, games played, and team performance expected to factor heavily into coaches decisions.

If current projections hold, the final roster would feature 16 American players and 8 international players, a balanced outcome that aligns with the league global growth strategy. Any injury replacements between now and mid February could alter that split.

The 2026 NBA All Star Game represents a breaking update in both format and philosophy, blending legacy recognition with international star power. What this means moving forward is a continued push toward relevance and competitiveness, with the league closely monitoring player engagement and on court intensity as the next steps in evaluating the event long term outlook.