NBA Notes: First time All-Stars, G League, adjusting newcomers

All-Stars

The 2026 NBA All-Star Game is still more than two months away, but the field of potential first-timers is already taking shape.

Zach Harper of The Athletic highlighted several players who are building strong cases. In the East, he pointed to Bulls guard Josh Giddey, Hawks forward Jalen Johnson, Pistons center Jalen Duren and Heat guard Norman Powell.

In the West, Harper identified Lakers guard Austin Reaves, Blazers forward Deni Avdija, Thunder big man Chet Holmgren and Nuggets guard Jamal Murray as the most realistic candidates.

Of that group, ESPN’s Zach Kram believes only Duren is close to a lock. Kram broke the landscape into two tiers — “near-locks” and “on the bubble” — and Duren landed among the seven near-locks in the East. Giddey, Johnson and Powell also earned strong consideration.

Murray’s case is more complicated. Kram noted that the Western Conference field is deep, and even a career-best first half may not guarantee one of the 12 spots.

The good news for Murray is that the league will fill eight international spots and could open even more opportunities via injury replacements. There are multiple paths for him to finally earn an All-Star berth.

G League

Lindsay Schnell of The Athletic took a closer look at how former G League players have become NCAA-eligible and what it means for college basketball. The shift has created a new wrinkle for programs trying to understand an evolving system.

“At the end of the day, we’re not the ones making decisions,” Baylor coach Scott Drew said. “We either adapt to the rules or we get left behind.

“So until something changes, I guess all of us are watching G League games now.”

Slow Starts

Kevin Pelton of ESPN examined why several high-profile players who changed teams over the summer have struggled to find an early rhythm.

His research points to familiarity — or the lack of it — as a major factor in shooting efficiency.

Pelton highlighted players such as Cameron Johnson, Desmond Bane and Myles Turner as examples of stars whose new situations have required an adjustment period. The data suggests that as chemistry improves, their numbers likely will too.