The NBA finally made it official, and yeah, this one landed with a thud and a shrug at the same time.
The 2026 All-Star starters are set, and for the first time in two decades, LeBron James is not one of them.
Out East, the starters are Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jaylen Brown, Jalen Brunson, Cade Cunningham, and Tyrese Maxey. That means no Donovan Mitchell in the starting five, despite another monster season in Cleveland.
The West starters are Stephen Curry, Luka Doncic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokić, and Victor Wembanyama.
The big takeaway isn’t who made it. It’s who didn’t. James’ record streak of 21 straight All-Star starts is over, thanks to missed games early and a quieter-by-his-standards season. He’ll still have a strong shot to be voted in as a reserve by the coaches, but the era officially shifted a notch on Monday.
This year’s All-Star Game will feature the new USA vs. World format, played Feb. 15 at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, with three eight-man teams and a short, tournament-style setup. Starters are split evenly — five Americans, five internationals.
Reserves will be announced Feb. 1. That’s where Mitchell, James, and several others figure to re-enter the picture.
Different names. Same arguments. Different format. Same drama.
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