The NBA revealed its 10 starters for next month’s All-Star Game on Monday, and for the first time in 21 years Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James was not among them.
Western Conference fans, players and media picked Lakers guard Luka Doncic, Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama and Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry.
In the East, Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo led the voting and will line up with New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey, Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham and Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown.
James’ record run halted
James had opened every All-Star Game since 2005, compiling a record 21 straight starts. A slow start to this season, caused in part by sciatica that sidelined him for the first 14 games and ended his streak of 1,297 consecutive 10-point outings last month in Toronto, kept him far from a starting spot. His participation now depends on the reserve selections, which are made by NBA coaches and scheduled to be announced Sunday.
Notable starter notes
Curry, averaging 27.6 points while approaching his 38th birthday, received his 12th All-Star nod. Antetokounmpo reached double-digit selections as well, posting 28.8 points, 9.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists for a Bucks team currently 11th in the East.
Doncic returned to All-Star status after missing last year’s game with a calf injury; he paces fan voting and is averaging 33.3 points, 7.5 rebounds and 8.6 assists. Jokic, sidelined recently by a knee bone bruise, owns averages of 29.6 points, 12.2 rebounds and 11 assists. Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning MVP, is putting up 31.8 points, 4.4 rebounds and 6.2 assists for the league-leading Thunder.
Wembanyama earns his first start after debuting as an All-Star last season, contributing 24.5 points, 10.9 rebounds and an NBA-best 2.6 blocks. In the East, Cunningham secures his first start and second appearance for a Pistons club on a 60-win pace, while Maxey (over 30 points per game) also starts for the first time. Brunson (28.2 points, 6.1 assists) makes his third consecutive All-Star Game, and Brown posts a career-high 29.7 points for the second-place Celtics.
How the votes were tallied
Starter selections are determined 50 percent by fan ballots, 25 percent by media and 25 percent by players. This year’s game adopts a “Team USA vs. the World” format that will ultimately split the All-Stars into three rosters: two American squads and one international group. Monday’s announcement produced five American and five international starters. If, after the reserves are named, the pool includes fewer than 16 Americans or eight internationals, commissioner Adam Silver will add players to meet those minimums.
The 2026 All-Star Game is scheduled for next month; exact date and site were not specified in Monday’s release.
Source: ESPN
