The 2026 NBA All-Star starters have officially been announced, based on voting by fans (50% of the vote), current players (25%), and members of the media (25%).
Eastern Conference All-Star Starters: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jalen Brunson, Cade Cunningham, Tyrese Maxey, and Jaylen Brown
Western Conference All-Star Starters: Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, Shai-Gilgeous Alexander, Stephen Curry, and Victor Wembanyama
But while there weren’t any major surprises for the list of starters from both the Eastern and Western Conference, barring LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers, who had his historic 20-year streak of being named an All-Star starter snapped, there were some wild names who received votes.
Of those included, LeBron’s son and teammate, Bronny James, Boston Celtics star who has yet to play this season, Jayson Tatum, as well as Jonathan Kuminga of the Golden State Warriors, who hasn’t played in over a month, along with a loaded list of other shocking All-Star nominees.
Granted, those just mentioned and about to be named were all given votes by current players, (as the list of names voted on by the fans is even longer), as Tim Cato of DLLS Sports put it, ‘NBA players still don’t take their All-Star votes seriously. Just look at the ballots.’
The list of players who received votes from their own peers is shocking to say the least. To give full context, here are some notable players who got All-Star votes from both the East and West.
Surprising Western Conference Players Given All-Star Votes By Their Peers
Starting with Bronny James, he received two All-Star votes from current players. The son of the NBA’s all-time leading scorer is putting up averages of 1.5 points, 0.4 rebounds, and 1.1 assists on 31.8/30.2/81.3 shooting splits in 6.9 minutes in 24 total games, with one start.
James has been putting up stronger numbers on the Lakers’ G-League affiliate, but hasn’t played more than 20 minutes in a game this season. Perhaps players think his father’s genes will finally be proven true, or perhaps his father himself, along with someone else, thought he was deserving, or not, of the All-Star nod.
As mentioned, Kuminga got a vote from a player, but after a long saga with the Warriors, demanded a trade, hasn’t played since mid-December, and while putting up lower averages than in years past, looks to have played his last game in Golden State.
Several other role players for both the Lakers and Warriors received All-Star votes, and while the fan voting might indicate the same, it is somewhat surprising from a player’s perspective.
Dario Saric of the Sacramento Kings, with a total of five appearances on the year in 8.2 minutes per game, got a vote. Cody Williams, a struggling second-year wing with the now-famous record of the worst plus/minus in NBA history, got at least one vote. Dejounte Murray and Damian Lillard, who has yet to play this season ,also each got a vote. 39-year-old Jeff Green of the Rockets, with only 32 points on the year, received one vote as well.
Many players with alarming statlines got votes as well.
Here is the full list of All-Star voting for the Western Conference.
Shocking Eastern Conference Players Given All-Star Votes By Fellow Players
Tatum is likely the most notable player to receive votes from the East, because, regardless of any injury return rumors, he has yet to play this season after tearing his Achilles in the playoffs, getting one player vote.
Miami Heat rookie Vladislav Goldin, with just one total minute in one appearance and no points on the year, got a vote. Taurean Prince of the Bucks, who is set to miss the rest of the season with injury, also got one nod from a fellow player. Collin Castleton from Orlando, who hasn’t played this year, got a vote. Emanuel Miller of the Bulls, a team that likely won’t get one All-Star, with just five appearances on the year with 25 total points, got one vote as well.
Finally, Drew Peterson, who is currently not on an NBA roster, also received a single vote.
There were also several players with either extremely minimal playing time or none at all this season, who got votes from their NBA peers.
Here is the full list of All-Star voting for the Eastern Conference.
According to Cato of DLLS Sports, 122 players received at least one vote from another player. He also reminded fans of the famous Zaza Pachulia All-Star vote nod, and shared a similarly startling list of players who got votes back in 2018.
Again, some of the names listed on the ballots are shocking to say the least. Whether NBA players are hoping their friends or teammates somehow get the nod, despite what their stats may show, or if they aren’t watching games themselves, the player voting more resembles the fan voting than perhaps the fans, and likely media, would have hoped.
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