Excitement for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game
The excitement for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game is building, as fan voting commenced on December 17 and will continue throughout the next month. Fans can now cast their votes daily for the starters who will take to the court on February 15, 2026, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, home of the L.A. Clippers. This year’s game promises a fresh twist with a tri-team format—two squads representing the USA and one featuring international talent, all competing in a round-robin style tournament.
Voting Process
Voting is open to all NBA fans who possess an NBA ID, allowing for one vote each day through the NBA App and NBA.com. Notably, certain dates—December 21, December 25, December 30, January 7, and January 14—have been designated as “3-for-1 days”, meaning votes cast on these days will count three times toward the final tally.
Starters and Reserves
Fans will collectively determine the five starters for each of the Eastern and Western Conference teams, based purely on popularity, while coaching staffs will select seven reserves per conference. However, as with previous All-Star voting seasons, the ability to vote for players irrespective of their positions remains a novel feature.
Eastern Conference
In the Eastern Conference, the suggested starters include Jalen Brunson, Cade Cunningham, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Donovan Mitchell, and Jaylen Brown. Reserves could potentially feature Tyrese Maxey, Karl-Anthony Towns, Jalen Duran, Jalen Johnson, Scottie Barnes, Norman Powell, and Josh Giddey, with some noteworthy omissions like Evan Mobley and Desmond Bane.
Western Conference
Meanwhile, for the Western Conference, projected starters are Luka Doncic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, Alperen Sengun, and Kevin Durant, alongside reserves such as Victor Wembanyama, Anthony Edwards, Stephen Curry, James Harden, Chet Holmgren, Austin Reaves, and Jamal Murray, with LeBron James receiving special consideration from Adam Silver. Potential snubs in the West include Deni Avdija and Devin Booker, among others.
Significance of the 2026 All-Star Game
The 2026 NBA All-Star game holds unique significance as it coincides with the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, marking NBC’s and Peacock’s return to broadcasting this iconic basketball event. The All-Star match will integrate an exciting new approach that allows for creativity in positioning—fans can select any five players regardless of position, leading to an array of tactical surprises.
