Giannis, Curry, and Doncic headline the 2026 NBA All-Star starters, while LeBron James’ 21-year run ends and Anthony Edwards loses a tiebreaker to Victor Wembanyama.
The NBA revealed the Eastern and Western Conference starters for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game on Jan. 19, confirming a new era of league stardom and ending the longest starter streak in league history. Using a 50% fan vote, 25% player vote, and 25% media vote, the league selected the top five performers from each conference regardless of position.
Eastern Conference Starters
- Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons — second selection
- Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks — third selection
- Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers — second selection
- Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics — fifth selection
- Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks — tenth selection
Western Conference Starters
- Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors — twelfth selection
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder — fourth selection
- Luka Dončić, Los Angeles Lakers — sixth selection
- Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs — second selection
- Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets — eighth selection
Winners
Jaylen Brown
Boston’s swingman graduates from sidekick to centerpiece. With Jayson Tatum sidelined by a torn Achilles, Brown has vaulted into MVP contention, averaging 29.7 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists while carrying a retooled Celtics roster. His first starter nod is both validation and coronation.
Jalen Brunson
Knicks fans flexed their muscle, pushing Brunson to a 3.25 weighted score that dwarfed fifth-place Donovan Mitchell by 2.75 points. Brunson’s clutch gene is undeniable, but the Garden’s voting bloc amplified his case in a guard-heavy East.
Victor Wembanyama
The 22-year-old phenom squeezed into the lineup via fan-vote tiebreaker, edging Anthony Edwards by 4,505 ballots. San Antonio is 10-4 without him, yet his 24.5 PPG and league-altering rim protection keep him in the MVP race and the spotlight.
Tyrese Maxey
Philly’s 24-year-old blur becomes the face of the franchise in real time. Averaging a career-best 28.4 PPG and drilling 30-foot daggers nightly, Maxey’s first starter berth signals the post-Embiid era has already begun.
Losers
LeBron James
A historic run ends: after 21 consecutive starter nods, James falls to reserve status. The 41-year-old missed the season’s first 14 games with sciatica and is averaging career-low minutes. He’ll still extend his record 22nd overall selection, but the league’s torch-passing moment is official.
Anthony Edwards
The league’s fifth-leading scorer (29.6 PPG) lost a literal popularity contest. Edwards and Wembanyama finished with identical 5.75 weighted scores; the tiebreaker went to fan votes, where Edwards trailed by fewer than 5,000. His explosive aerial act will grace Salt Lake City—just not in the opening tip-off.
Donovan Mitchell
Cleveland’s explosive guard is posting career highs—29.2 PPG and 5.7 APG—yet the Cavs’ slow start cost him traction with voters. He finished sixth in East weighted score, a whisper behind Jaylen Brown’s 0.5-point scoring edge.
Jalen Johnson
Atlanta’s do-everything forward is flirting with a 22-point triple-double (22.8 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 8.0 APG) but pays the small-market tax. The Hawks sit 10th in the East, and Johnson’s defensive dip dulled his shine versus Brunson’s Madison Square Garden spotlight.
The 2026 All-Star Game tips Feb. 15 at Inglewood’s Intuit Dome, where the league’s new guard will try to steal the show from the veterans still clinging to the stage. For instant post-game analysis and trade-deadline fallout, keep refreshing onlytrustedinfo.com—the fastest source for what happens next and why it matters.
