TITLE: Voting Opens Dec. 17 for 2026 NBA All-Star Game; Lakers Push for James, Dončić and Reaves
SLUG: how-to-vote-lakers-2026-nba-all-star-game
CONTENT:
Fan voting for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game tips off at noon ET on Dec. 17, giving supporters a 29-day window to help send Los Angeles Lakers stars LeBron James, Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves to the mid-season showcase.
Key dates and details
- Voting period: Dec. 17 at 12 p.m. ET through Jan. 14 at 11:59 p.m. ET
- Where to vote: NBA App or NBA.com/vote (NBA ID required; free sign-up at NBA.com/ID)
- Triple-vote days: Dec. 21, Dec. 25, Dec. 30, Jan. 7, Jan. 14
- Starters revealed: Jan. 19 on NBC
Fans may cast one ballot per day, and their selections will count for 50 % of the starter tally. Player ballots account for 25 %, and a media panel supplies the remaining 25 %. For the first time, no position labels appear on the ballot; voters simply choose any five players from each conference.
Game night set for Los Angeles
The 73rd NBA All-Star Game is scheduled for Feb. 15 at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, home of the Clippers, with national coverage on NBC and Peacock. Despite the venue, the Lakers are expected to be the city’s headliners, led by perennial vote-leader James and high-performing teammates Dončić and Reaves.
New USA vs. World format
The league has replaced the traditional East-West matchup with a three-team tournament. Two teams will feature American-born players, while one will consist of international stars. Each roster will include eight players, producing 24 All-Stars overall. The mini-tournament will unfold over four 12-minute games:
- Team A vs. Team B
- Winner of Game 1 vs. Team C
- Loser of Game 1 vs. Team C
- Championship between the two best records (point differential breaks a 1-1-1 tie)
If fan and player voting do not yield the intended mix of 16 American and eight international players, Commissioner Adam Silver will select replacements to complete the field.
The NBA’s updated system gives Lakers fans multiple chances—including five triple-vote days—to bolster the candidacies of James, Dončić and Reaves before the Jan. 14 deadline.
Source: Lakers Nation
