NBA All-Star Voting Opens: Here’s What You Need to Know About the 2026 Game - And Who Deserves a Spot
The race to the 2026 NBA All-Star Game officially begins today. Fan voting is now live, and for the next month, basketball fans everywhere will have their say in who takes the floor at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif., on February 15. This year’s showcase is more than just a midseason celebration - it’s a bold new chapter in All-Star history, with a three-team format and a USA-vs-World twist that’s bound to shake things up.
Let’s break down how the voting works, what’s new, and - most importantly - who’s earned their place among the league’s elite.
How Voting Works
The process is familiar, but with a few wrinkles. Fans can vote once per day through the NBA App or NBA.com, as long as they have an NBA ID.
And keep an eye on the calendar - on select “3-for-1” days (Dec. 21, Dec.
25, Dec. 30, Jan. 7, and Jan. 14), every vote counts triple.
That’s a big deal in a tight race.
Voting is positionless this year. That means fans can vote for any five players from each conference - guards, forwards, centers, it doesn’t matter.
If you want to roll out five point guards or five bigs, go for it. The fan vote will be combined with votes from players and select media members to determine the five starters from each conference.
Coaches will then select the seven reserves per conference.
From there, the league will split the 24 All-Stars into three teams: two USA squads and one World team, each with at least eight players. The format?
A round-robin tournament of four 12-minute games, capped off by a championship between the two top-performing teams. It’s a fresh twist, and it’s set to debut on NBC and Peacock - right in the heart of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.
Eastern Conference Picks
Starters:
- Jalen Brunson
- Cade Cunningham
- Giannis Antetokounmpo
- Donovan Mitchell
- Jaylen Brown
Reserves:
- Tyrese Maxey
- Karl-Anthony Towns
- Jalen Duren
- Jalen Johnson
- Scottie Barnes
- Norman Powell
- Josh Giddey
Snubs: Evan Mobley, Desmond Bane, Brandon Ingram, Bam Adebayo
The Breakdown:
This is a guard-heavy starting five - and yes, that includes Jaylen Brown, who’s playing more like a wing but still bringing that backcourt energy. Brunson and Cunningham have been leading their teams with poise and grit, while Giannis remains a lock - a perennial All-Star who continues to dominate both ends of the floor.
Maxey could easily slide into a starting role, and no one would bat an eye. His growth this season has been electric.
As for the reserves, Duren’s emergence in the paint, Johnson’s two-way impact, and Barnes’ all-around versatility make them easy choices. Powell’s resurgence in Miami and Giddey’s steady presence in Chicago give them the edge for the final spots.
Mobley, Bane, Ingram, and Adebayo? All worthy. But with limited spots and a deep field, someone’s always left out.
Western Conference Picks
Starters:
- Luka Dončić
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
- Nikola Jokić
- Alperen Şengün
- Kevin Durant
Reserves:
- Victor Wembanyama
- Anthony Edwards
- Stephen Curry
- James Harden
- Chet Holmgren
- Austin Reaves
- Jamal Murray
Adam Silver Special Designation: LeBron James
Snubs: Deni Avdija, Devin Booker, Lauri Markkanen, Julius Randle
The Breakdown:
The West is stacked.
Luka and Shai are playing MVP-caliber basketball, and Jokić - well, he’s still Jokić, the most efficient offensive engine in the league. Şengün and Durant round out a starting five that blends youth, skill, and veteran firepower.
Wembanyama and Holmgren give this group a futuristic feel, while Edwards continues to rise as one of the most complete young stars in the league. Curry and Harden may not be in their primes, but they’re still producing at All-Star levels.
Reaves and Murray? They’ve been crucial to winning basketball, and that counts.
LeBron’s inclusion via commissioner’s selection feels inevitable - and deserved. Even in Year 23, he’s still delivering.
Leaving out Avdija, Booker, Markkanen, and Randle stings. But when the West is this deep, tough calls are unavoidable.
World Team Roster Projection
With the new format, the World team is shaping up to be a force. Based on these picks, here’s the eight-man group representing international talent:
- Luka Dončić (Slovenia)
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Canada)
- Nikola Jokić (Serbia)
- Alperen Şengün (Turkey)
- Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece)
- Karl-Anthony Towns (Dominican Republic)
- Victor Wembanyama (France)
- Jamal Murray (Canada)
That’s a loaded squad - skilled, versatile, and battle-tested. Betting against that group? Not a smart move.
What to Watch For
The All-Star Game has always been about celebrating the best of the best, but this year’s changes bring a whole new level of intrigue. The three-team format adds a competitive edge, the USA vs. World dynamic gives it global flavor, and the return to NBC and debut on Peacock brings back a nostalgic feel with a modern twist.
So get your votes in. Whether you’re riding with the vets, backing the breakout stars, or throwing your support behind international icons, the 2026 All-Star Game is shaping up to be something special.
And if today’s early buzz is any indication, the fans are ready to make their voices heard.