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The 2026 NBA All-Star Game is bringing more than just highlight dunks and flashy intros—it’s rolling out a fresh format and a starting lineup packed with familiar faces and rising stars.
New Format Shakes Up the Midseason Classic
This year’s All-Star event, set for February 15 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, scraps the traditional East vs. West setup. In its place: a U.S. vs. World showdown, split into a three-team round-robin tournament. Two American squads will take on one international team, with each matchup featuring 12-minute games leading up to a championship finale.
The starters, announced during the NBA’s MLK Day broadcast on NBC and Peacock, are already fueling speculation about which side will have the edge.
Eastern Conference Starters
The East’s starting five leans on experienced names and breakout guards:
- Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks): 10th All-Star start
- Jaylen Brown (Celtics): 5th start
- Jalen Brunson (Knicks): 3rd start
- Cade Cunningham (Pistons): 2nd start
- Tyrese Maxey (76ers): 2nd start
Brunson and Maxey headline a shift in guard play, bringing youthful energy and aggressive scoring to a typically veteran-heavy lineup.
Western Conference Starters
Out West, it’s a blend of legends and rising icons:
- Stephen Curry (Warriors): 12th All-Star appearance
- Luka Dončić (Lakers): 6th start
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder): 4th start
- Nikola Jokić (Nuggets): 8th start
- Victor Wembanyama (Spurs): 2nd start
Curry remains the face of perimeter play, while Wembanyama’s sophomore All-Star nod confirms his rapid climb from phenom to force.
LeBron’s Absence Ends a 21-Year Streak
One of the biggest headlines? No LeBron James. For the first time since 2004, he won’t start the All-Star Game. A sciatica injury sidelined him for the first 14 games of the season and likely cost him the fan vote edge he’s long dominated. The end of his 21-year streak is a historic footnote—and a clear sign that the league’s next generation is fully taking hold.
How the Starters Were Chosen
The selection process combined 50% fan votes with 25% each from media and players. While the starters are set, reserves—picked by NBA head coaches—will be announced in the coming days.
USA vs. World Player Assignments Coming Soon
With the starters now in place, the league will soon reveal which players land on which squads for the USA vs. World matchups. It’s a format designed to showcase international depth without sidelining American star power—and with names like Wembanyama, Dončić, and Jokić in the mix, there’s no shortage of global firepower.
For fans and bettors alike, the All-Star Game just got a little more unpredictable.
