2026 All-Star Ballot

With All-Star voting wrapping up Wednesday and the starters being announced on Monday, it is time for my 2026 All-Star ballot. This year, they have changed how the teams are divided again. They will be separated into two USA teams and one international team and play a round robin before the two teams who fared the best in said round robin will play in a championship game. Will it make players play hard? No it won’t but don’t tell the NBA that! Will NBC have a ceremony for their pre and post game show that is simply changing networks next season in the middle of the game? Anyways, there are no more positions on the ballot so that means it is just the 12 best players from each conference. Other than they voting remains the same.

West

Starters

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

SGA is having yet another MVP caliber season. Averaging 31.9 points, 6.4 assists and 4.5 rebounds, the reigning MVP looks to be in-line for another, bearing injury. With the Thunder sitting at 34-7, Shai is a lock to be named a starter.

Stephen Curry

Curry is having another typical Curry season. Averaging 28.1 points per game on 47% from the field and 39% from three, Steph is the reason the Warriors are able to stay afloat in the Western Conference. You just hope they don’t waste the end of his career like this.

Luka Doncic

The counting stats for Luka Doncic are amazing yet again. Averaging a league leading 33.4 points per game with 8.8 assists and 7.9 rebounds. He is going to be named an All-Star starter. His free throw rate is through the roof at 53%, up from the 39% he was at in Dallas, which is interesting.

Anthony Edwards

Ant-Man just keeps getting better and better. Averaging a career high 28.9 points per game, he is also shooting 50% from the field and 40% from three for the first time in his career as well. The Timberwolves are also really good and look like one of the best teams in a loaded Western Conference.

Nikola Jokic

Though the Joker is hurt right now, I think his games and minutes played are good enough for him to be tabbed a starter. Averaging 29.6 points while leading the league in rebounds per game (12.2) and assists per game (11.0), Jokic is having maybe the best season of his career. If it were not for the injury he would be a huge favorite to win the MVP.

Bench

Victor Wembanyama

Wemby has a chance to be a starter but the minutes played just were not high enough for me to get him in there. He is the best defensive player in the league and it is not particularly close but I would like to see his offensive game and his conditioning improve before we tab the Spurs as a title threat.

Kawhi Leonard

The Clippers have turned their season around and Leonard’s play is the primary reason for it. He is averaging a career high 28.2 points per game and has games with 55, 45 and 41 points, all within the last month. The Clippers have a likely chance at the play-in after starting 6-21 and Leonard’s play is a big part of that.

Jamal Murray

Yet another guy having a career best season and this one will likely land Jamal Murray his first All-Star appearance. Averaging 25.8 points, 7.5 assists and 4.5 rebounds, Murray’s play has been a big part of why Denver has been able to stay afloat without Nikola Jokic.

Deni Advija

Portland gave Advija an expanded role this season and it has paid off. His counting stats have popped in a major way, including 26.1 points per game and his efficiency numbers have remained pretty much the same. A really good player who has played a big role in the Blazers being able to hover around .500 with the injuries they have had.

Kevin Durant

How can we leave a guy who is averaging 26/5/4 and is as accomplished as Durant is off of the All-Star team? I am not one for lifetime achievement All-Star nominations but Durant is having an awesome season. He should be the last lock.

Chet Holmgren

Holmgren has been awesome all season. The offense comes and goes, averaging 17.9 points on 57% from the field and 37% from three, but it is his defense that lands him on my All-Star ballot. He is averaging 2 blocks per game and players are shooting 49% in the restricted area when Holmgren is the nearest defender. He is deserving of an All-Star nod to me.

Alperen Sengun

This last spot was between Sengun and Devin Booker. Sengun wins out because his numbers are just better than Booker’s are. His boxscore plus/minus on Basketball Reference is 3.5 points higher than Booker’s and his shooting percentages, rebounds per game and assists per game are also higher. I wanted to go Booker due to team success but Sengun has just been a better player.

EastStarters

Jalen Brunson

Jalen Brunson is having yet another Jalen Brunson type of season. Averaging 28.2 points and 6.1 assists per game, Brunson has New York as the 2nd seed in the Eastern Conference. His numbers are great and his team is great, that leads to the starting nod.

Donovan Mitchell

The last starting spot went to Mitchell because of how he has single handedly kept Cleveland afloat this season. The Cavs have been one of the most disappointing teams in the league but Mitchell has been fantastic. He is also averaging a career high 29.7 points per game.

Cade Cunningham

The Pistons have the best record in the conference and Cunningham has been their best player. Averaging 26.7 points, 9.7 assists and 6.2 rebounds, Cade’s numbers are as good as anyone’s in the league. Watching him make the leap to superstardom has been a lot of fun.

Jaylen Brown

Jaylen Brown making the leap he has made in his 10th NBA season is one of the most shocking and fun things to happen this season. He has not only kept the Celtics afloat but has them thriving. Averaging 29.5 points, 6.4 rebounds and 5.0 assists, Brown has carried Boston this season.

Giannis Antetokounmpo

Giannis is having yet another monster season, averaging 29.1 points, 9.7 rebounds and 5.7 assists per game. Milwaukee cannot survive without Antetokounmpo on the floor this season. When Giannis is on the court, the Bucks are +9.8 points per 100 possessions. When he is not on the court, Milwaukee is -10.5 points per 100 possessions.

Bench

Tyrese Maxey

Maxey just missed out on being a starter. Averaging 30.5 points, 6.6 assists and 4.4 rebounds, the leap that Tyrese Maxey has taken this season has been a joy to watch. In a season where Joel Embiid and Paul George have been in and out of the lineup, Maxey has kept the Sixers afloat in the Eastern Conference Playoffs.

Jalen Johnson

Jalen Johnson is a really good player but injuries have derailed his seasons the last 2 years. This year, however, he has been healthy and ready to go. It has led to a monster season, averaging 23.4 points, 10.1 rebounds and 8.1 assists per game.

Scottie Barnes

Scottie Barnes’ stats don’t jump off of the page, his 19.4 points, 8.3 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game are pretty standard for him. Yet, he is doing so much for this Raptors team. His screening and defense have been a huge part of Toronto's successes this season.

Michael Porter Jr.

Michael Porter Jr. has revived his career in a major way this season. Averaging 25.7 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists (a whole assist more than he has ever averaged in his career). The Nets are also net neutral in his minutes this season, which is crazy because of how bad that roster is. He is a very likely trade candidate and a team is going to get an All-Star player.

Franz Wagner

I don’t feel great about this one but Wagner has been Orlando’s best player by a lot this season. Although the minutes are less than ideal, he still makes my roster. Averaging 22.7 points on 49% from the field and 36% from three, Wagner has been a lot more efficient this season than he was a season ago.

Karl-Anthony Towns

It has not been a great KAT season but he has still been really good. The debate for me was KAT vs Jalen Duren and Towns won out. Averaging 21.0 points and 11.2 rebounds per game, Towns is still an elite player who, though it has been his best, is still having a very good season.

Norman Powell

Another Norman Powell All-Star nod from me, he made my Western Conference All-Stars last season. Averaging 23.9 points per game, the Heat’s offense has been up and down a lot this season. A lot of the up has been due to a really great Powell season.