NBA All-Star weekend concluded Sunday with the All-Star Sport.
Crew Shaquille O’Neal emerged victorious from the occasion’s first-ever four-team event, and Golden State’s Stephen Curry fittingly gained MVP in entrance of a Chase Heart crowd in San Francisco.
The 2026 NBA All-Star Sport shall be held on the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. And despite the fact that the panorama of the league can change drastically between every now and then with participant motion and accidents, it is by no means too early to foretell who’ll be chosen.
We’ll use this 12 months’s choice course of to fill the 24 spots. Every convention shall be represented by 5 starters (two backcourt gamers and three frontcourt gamers) and 7 reserves (two backcourt gamers, three frontcourt gamers and two wild-card gamers of any place).
Listed below are 2026 NBA All-Star predictions:
Extra: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder maintained pleasure in new NBA All-Star Sport format
2026 NBA All-Star participant predictions
Japanese Convention
Starters
Backcourt: Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks
Brunson has strengthened his case to be the highest guard within the East. And with a supporting forged of Karl-Anthony Cities, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby and Josh Hart beneath contract for subsequent season, New York ought to proceed to be one of many convention’s high contenders.
Backcourt: Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers
Mitchell’s case is similar to Brunson. Each gamers have a powerful case to be thought of the highest guard within the East. Each gamers are enjoying a few of their finest basketball at age 28. And each gamers are on groups that ought to proceed to contend for a championship. This might be the convention’s All-Star backcourt for years to return.
Frontcourt: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
Antetokounmpo has been named an All-Star starter in every of the final 9 seasons. That streak will certainly hit double digits, contemplating the 30-year-old ahead remains to be enjoying elite basketball on each ends of the ground.
Frontcourt: Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
Even when Boston would not defend its championship title this season, it has the items to be a contender for the subsequent handful of years. And Tatum, who’s solely 26, will certainly signify the group as an All-Star starter all through that stretch.
Frontcourt: Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic
Banchero acquired off to a sizzling begin this season, averaging 29 factors and eight.8 rebounds by Orlando’s first 5 video games. The 22-year-old ahead then missed 34 straight video games resulting from a torn proper indirect, however I believe he’ll set up himself as one of many largest stars within the East subsequent season.
Extra: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder staying in character at NBA All-Star Weekend
Reserves
Backcourt: Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons
The previous Oklahoma State star earned his first All-Star choice this season, and he ought to solely get higher at simply 23 years outdated. The large query is whether or not Detroit can proceed to development in the proper route, however I place confidence in the younger group to stay within the playoff hunt.
Backcourt: Trae Younger, Atlanta Hawks
Regardless that Younger made the reduce this season as an damage alternative for Antetokounmpo, he is nonetheless one of many NBA’s most neglected stars. The 26-year-old guard from Norman North and OU ought to proceed to attain and move at an elite degree subsequent season, and I believe Atlanta shall be a greater group with different promising younger gamers reminiscent of Jalen Johnson and Dyson Daniels within the combine.
Frontcourt: Karl-Anthony Cities, New York Knicks
Regardless that I gave the beginning nod to Banchero, Cities should not have any a lot hassle incomes his sixth All-Star choice. The 29-year-old heart is flourishing on a contending New York group, and I do not see that altering.
Frontcourt: Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers
I do not suppose Cleveland can have three All-Stars once more, however Mobley ought to nonetheless make the reduce. The 23-year-old ahead has made strides on offense, making him a two-way risk with loads of time to enhance much more.
Frontcourt: Bam Adebayo, Miami Warmth
Tyler Herro earned his first All-Star choice this season, and he deserved it for taking up a bigger position within the absence of Jimmy Butler. However I am predicting the Warmth to be represented subsequent season by Adebayo, who might unlock a brand new a part of his offensive sport at energy ahead alongside Kel’el Ware along with being a Defensive Participant of the Yr candidate.
Wild card: Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics
Brown’s effectivity has gone down this season, however it’s not vital sufficient for me to be involved. The 28-year-old guard remains to be a co-star on a championship contender, making him somebody I’ve to incorporate on this checklist.
Wild card: Franz Wagner, Orlando Magic
Wagner was averaging 24.4 factors and 5.7 assists on a third-place Orlando group with a 16-9 file earlier than he suffered a torn proper indirect. He is already one of many league’s extra well-rounded wings at 23, and he’ll change into a fair greater risk if he can return to being a league-average shooter from deep.
Extra: First-time All-Star Cade Cunningham is on approach to changing into finest NBA OSU Cowboy ever
Snubs
The primary two gamers to overlook the reduce have been Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid and Charlotte’s LaMelo Ball, who’re just too injury-prone for me to financial institution on them.
I additionally thought of Milwaukee’s Damian Lillard and Philadelphia’s Tyrese Maxey. I used to be even tempted so as to add both Toronto’s Scottie Barnes or Brandon Ingram as a sleeper choose since I am anticipating a leap from the group subsequent season.
Western Convention
Starters
Backcourt: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder
Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging a league-leading 32.5 factors this season, and he is arguably the NBA’s most unguardable participant. Even within the West, which is stacked with expertise, the 26-year-old guard must be thought of an All-Star starter lock.
Backcourt: Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers
Curry fittingly acquired the beginning nod at this season’s All-Star Sport, which befell in San Francisco. However with subsequent season’s All-Star Sport being held so near Lakers Land, it solely is sensible that Doncic will earn a beginning spot.
Frontcourt: LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
James has been named an All-Star starter for 21 straight seasons. The 40-year-old ahead will proceed to obtain that honor so long as he is nonetheless enjoying, even when different gamers are placing up higher numbers.
Frontcourt: Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
I am not pondering twice about this choose both. Jokic is the very best participant on this planet, and the 29-year-old heart should not decelerate any time quickly.
Frontcourt: Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
Wembanyama had a powerful case to be a starter this season, however he completed behind two future Corridor of Famers in James and Kevin Durant. That is simply the way it goes if you’re the brand new child on the block, however that’ll change subsequent season when Wembanyama cements himself as a top-five participant within the NBA.
Reserves
Backcourt: Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
Curry has 11 All-Star appearances beneath his belt, and the 36-year-old guard remains to be thought of the very best shooter this league has ever seen. Even when he would not begin subsequent season, he’ll don’t have any hassle making the reduce as a reserve identical to he did two seasons in the past.
Backcourt: Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
Edwards has one of many highest ceilings within the NBA, and he has confirmed that this season by making a league-leading 227 3-pointers. The 23-year-old ahead is continually including to his sport, which makes me assured that he can earn his fourth straight All-Star choice subsequent season.
Frontcourt: Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns
Durant is tied for fourth in profession All-Star appearances (15), and he’ll certainly declare sole possession of that spot subsequent season. Just like Curry, who’s additionally 36, the veteran ahead continues to age gracefully as some of the deadly scorers in NBA historical past.
Frontcourt: Anthony Davis, Dallas Mavericks
Davis recorded 26 factors and 16 rebounds in 31 minutes throughout his Dallas debut on Feb. 8 earlier than he went down with a left adductor pressure. It is an unlucky setback for the 31-year-old ahead, however he offered a glimpse of what he can do with the Mavericks as soon as he will get again on the court docket.
Frontcourt: Chet Holmgren, OKC Thunder
Jalen Williams was OKC’s second All-Star consultant this season, however I believe Holmgren shall be that man in 2026. The 22-year-old massive man averaged 16.4 factors, 8.7 rebounds and a pair of.6 blocks by 10 video games earlier than he suffered a proper iliac wing fracture. And despite the fact that accidents are a priority shifting ahead, Holmgren confirmed he is able to being a sturdy participant when he performed in all 92 of OKC’s video games final season.
Wildcard: Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns
Booker did not earn an All-Star choice this season due partly to a dip in effectivity, however he is nonetheless averaging 26.2 factors and 6.7 assists. Phoenix’s future is unsure, however I am assured Booker will return to his ordinary taking pictures splits subsequent season.
Wild card: Amen Thompson, Houston Rockets
Thompson has stuffed the stat sheet with averages of 16.5 factors, 8.7 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.9 steals and 1.6 blocks ever since he grew to become a full-time starter on Jan. 5. The 22-year-old ahead is an elite defender, a powerful finisher, an aggressive rebounder and a keen passer. And he can change into the face of a Houston group that is probably the greatest within the West. It is a matter of when, not if, Thompson will make an All-Star Sport. Name it a attain, however I am predicting it to occur subsequent season.
Extra: OKC Thunder lineup is full, however Chet Holmgren nonetheless needs to ‘iron out some wrinkles’
Snubs
The primary participant to overlook the reduce was Domantas Sabonis. He might get snubbed once more whereas enjoying for a Sacramento group that’ll possible take a step backward with out De’Aaron Fox, who was additionally thought of.
I additionally took an excellent take a look at Memphis’ Jaren Jackson Jr. and Ja Morant. I even thought of including both New Orleans’ Zion Williamson or Trey Murphy III as a sleeper choose since each gamers might enhance their manufacturing with Ingram now gone.
Extra: Mark Daigneault had respect from NBA teaching friends even earlier than OKC Thunder’s rise
This text initially appeared on Oklahoman: Will Chet Holmgren be a 2026 NBA All-Star Sport? Predicting rosters
