- Athletic voters shared ballots for the 2026 NBA All-Star starters ahead of Monday’s reveal on NBC/Peacock.
- The 2026 event switches to a round-robin with two U.S. teams and one international team, eight players each.
- Media ballots from Josh Robbins, William Guillory and Zach Harper all favored Giannis, Brown, Brunson, Cunningham and Maxey in the East.
- West votes commonly included Dončić, Edwards, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jokić and Wembanyama.
What’s new for NBA All-Star 2026
The NBA has reimagined the All-Star “game” as a short round-robin tournament. There will be two U.S. teams and one international team; each roster will include eight players and teams will play 12-minute games against each other. Starters continue to be chosen by a combined vote — fans (50%), players (25%) and media (25%) — but this year selections are being made regardless of position.
Media ballots: The Athletic’s choices
Three Athletic writers who serve on the media panel — Josh Robbins, William Guillory and Zach Harper — shared their starters ahead of the official announcement. All three selected the same five players for each conference.
East starters (all three ballots):
- Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks)
- Jaylen Brown (Celtics)
- Jalen Brunson (Knicks)
- Cade Cunningham (Pistons)
- Tyrese Maxey (76ers)
West starters (all three ballots):
- Luka Dončić (Lakers)
- Anthony Edwards (Timberwolves)
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder)
- Nikola Jokić (Nuggets)
- Victor Wembanyama (Spurs)
Why these players got the nod
The Athletic voters emphasized players who drive winning and have large impacts on both ends of the court. Roberts and Guillory noted team performance: Cunningham’s role in Detroit’s top position in the East and Brunson’s leadership of a Knicks squad that won the NBA Cup stood out. Giannis, Brown and Maxey were rewarded for two-way production and consistency.
In the West, the five players are among the league’s most dominant and visible: Dončić, Jokić and Shai are widely regarded as top-tier talents, while Wembanyama’s excitement factor and Edwards’ counting numbers and scoring role sealed their slots. Media voters also weighed minutes played and availability; injuries and missed games were considered but didn’t automatically disqualify players like Jokić or Wembanyama.
Notable omissions and context
The shared ballots left out some big names who still have All-Star cases, including stars like Donovan Mitchell and other veterans. Writers noted career standing (LeBron, Curry) and team context (Houston, Cleveland) as factors when making tough choices.
What’s next
Starters will be officially revealed Monday on NBC/Peacock. The new format shifts the midseason spotlight to a competitive short tournament and will change how fans, players and media evaluate All-Star selections going forward. Expect further roster announcements — including reserves — in the days after the starters reveal.
Image Referance: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6977270/2026/01/19/nba-all-star-voting-ballots-2026-starters/