The NBA has announced its 2026 All-Star reserves, revealing this year’s honorees on NBC ahead of the Knicks/Lakers matchup (Twitter links).
The following players will join the 10 All-Star starters the league announced on Monday, January 19.
Eastern Conference Reserves:
Guard: Donovan Mitchell (Cavaliers)- Guard: Norman Powell (Heat)
- Frontcourt: Jalen Johnson (Hawks)
- Frontcourt: Karl-Anthony Towns (Knicks)
- Frontcourt: Pascal Siakam (Pacers)
- Frontcourt: Scottie Barnes (Raptors)
- Frontcourt: Jalen Duren (Pistons)
The East will see three first-time All-Stars in Johnson, Powell, and Duren. Powell is averaging a career-high 23.0 points per game in his first season in Miami, while Johnson has emerged as one of the league’s most versatile point forwards on offense, averaging 23.0 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 8.0 assists per night while hitting 36.0% of his threes. Duren is averaging 18.0 PPG and 10.7 RPG, and is the second-leading scorer on the Eastern Conference-leading Pistons.
Towns is having a down year from an efficiency standpoint but has managed to contribute in other ways, leading the NBA in rebounds per game (11.8) while scoring 20.0 points per game on 36.4% shooting from deep. He will join teammate Jalen Brunson, who was named a starter for the second straight year, while Duren will join running mate Cade Cunningham.
Western Conference Reserves:
- Guard: Anthony Edwards (Timberwolves)
- Guard: Jamal Murray (Nuggets)
- Guard: Devin Booker (Suns)
- Frontcourt: Chet Holmgren (Thunder)
- Frontcourt: Kevin Durant (Rockets)
- Frontcourt: Deni Avdija (Trail Blazers)
- Frontcourt: LeBron James (Lakers)
For the Western Conference, Murray, Holmgren, and Avdija are all first-time All-Stars. Murray had long been considered one of the league’s best players – if not the best – to never take part in the event, but will no longer hold that title. He’s having his best scoring (25.8 PPG) and play-making (7.4 APG) season as a pro, and has helped the Nuggets hold onto the No. 2 seed despite missing co-star and All-Star starter Nikola Jokic for 16 games.
Avdija has exploded for the Blazers this season, averaging 25.5 points per game (after scoring 16.9 PPG last season) while also contributing 7.2 RPG and 6.7 APG and leading Portland to what is currently a play-in spot.
Despite cooling off a bit since his scorching start, Holmgren is averaging 17.8 PPG, 8.7 RPG, and 2.0 BPG and has anchored Oklahoma City’s dominant defense all season, especially while starting center Isaiah Hartenstein faced an extended absence due to a calf injury.
Booker was named to the team after leading the overachieving Suns to a 30-19 record — they’re currently percentage points behind the Lakers for the No. 6 spot in the West.
James was named to his 22nd consecutive All-Star team despite having a down year by his own standards. He is currently averaging 21.9 PPG, 5.8 RPG, and 6.6 APG for the Lakers, who are 29-18 coming into tonight’s game against the Knicks.
The Lakers, Knicks, Thunder, Pistons, and Nuggets are the teams with multiple players represented.
Some notable players not to make this year’s All-Star team include Michael Porter Jr., Kawhi Leonard, Bam Adebayo, Joel Embiid, Julius Randle, Lauri Markkanen, Brandon Ingram, and Alperen Sengun — they’re among the top candidates to become injury replacements.
As Ian Begley of SNY notes (via Twitter), the NBA’s decision to include a USA versus World component requires at least eight international players. Luka Doncic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Victor Wembanyama, Jokic, Avdija, Murray, and Siakam will make up a majority of the World roster, but with starter Giannis Antetokounmpo injured, the league will need to decide whether Towns, who suits up for the Dominican Republic in international play, as well as Powell, who played with Jamaica last summer, will be considered international or American players, Marc Stein observes (via Twitter). Either way, an injury replacement will need to be named for the Eastern Conference.
Stein adds that the NBA will announce the official roster breakdowns on Tuesday (Twitter link).

Jebron Lames!
LeBron? Oh please. Should we have Bronny too?
Could be his last season. President is already set with Kobe and Dirk making in their final years when they weren’t deserving.
*Precedent. The current president hates LeBron James.
He has the stats, 22 pts, 6 reb, 6.6 ast. He’s top 25 in NBA easy …..
Chet does not deserve it over Sengun …..
“Could be his last season” is what they’ve been saying for 3+ seasons now.. I bet hes gonna still be playing as a 46 year old, MINIMUM 1 or 2 more seasons
He’s still playing well. Who cares about his age. Guys have hung that couldn’t walk lol. Did you see Sgaq and Barkley their last two yrs. Bron can still play.
I think this should be his last. Frankly he probably wants one more. One more trip to Finals. Probably signs minimum with contender next yr. Could be in NY. He loves the attention lol.
What is the NBA equivalent of Shedeur Sanders making this team?
Siakam on the worst team.
Bronny James?
None. I don’t see any rookies that were chosen, and outside of LeBron or KAT, the picks were good
There are no players from the Hornets, the hottest team in the NBA, please show some respect.
Ah, yes. The 11th place Hornets. Lamelo wasn’t making it this year.
Crazy how a season is more than two weeks.
LeBron over lauri markkanen. Bro stop.
Lauri on a bottom team. I know Siakam snuck in but that shouldn’t allow guys on bad teams free spots.
Lebron is on an average team as well too. Look at the record since he’s come back. They already had a lead in the beginning of the year. Bottom line is the numbers don’t meet or are better than him. If Lauri who was on the Lakers? The Lakers would be championship contenders with him as a third option. If LeBron was on the Jazz they would be even worse. Overall career it’s not even close. LeBron is better and for talking this year. LeBron is no longer an All-Star or an all NBA player anymore
Siakam didn’t “sneak in”. He plays in the East. It’s a different bar in the West and always has been.
Eastern Conference selections were literally choosing between
Pascal Siakam & Michael Porter Jr
Norm Powell & Desmond Bane
I agree unless their stats are huge. MPJ maybe
Lauri isn’t even a Top 5 snub
Guess we know what kinda players you favor LOL
You’re right I favor good players. What are you suggesting that I like White players? First I’m black. 2nd I’m from West Philly. 3rd I run a volunteer program for incarcerated youth on the side. So I am all about community if you need to ask.
Last but not least, I don’t favor any person over anyone so Lauri if you watch basketball has had a incredible year and him a kawhi 1000% deserves an All-Star bid over LeBron James. The starters are voted in by votes. The reserves are people who actually deserve it and at the end of the day LeBron does not deserve it.
Philly? Oh my goodness, during my road trips, one of my favorite pick up Ball stops was 10th and Lombard. Excellent runs on the weekends.
Siakam plays on a team tied for the worst record. How is he an All Star? Did Embiid and Bam miss too many games? Over Giddey or Brandon Miller since positions don’t matter much.
Siakam has played 47 of 49 games.
Embiid has played 28 of 48. He was not making it.
Bam has played 42 of 50.
Michael Porter Jr has played 38 of 47.
Josh Giddey has played 31 of 49.
Brandon Miller has played 33 of 50.
Generally, the coaches do not take players who’ve missed 15+ games.
While we’re here, suggesting Giddey or Miller > Siakam means you probably need to re-evaluate your definition of “All-Star”. It would be ludicrous looking back 10 years from now if either of those players made it over an actual All-NBA level player. It is not Siakam’s fault his entire team is hurt, and there have always been players like Melo etc who make it despite a poor team record. It’s a tie breaker, not the primary factor.
There is also typically some incentive to honor players who had a deep playoff run the prior season. For example, in 2005 the Pistons took four All-Stars when they only took one the year they actually won the championship.
Mobley over KAT would’ve been more sensible
Mobley has had a worse season that KAT. Both players regressed this season and have disappointed their teams.
Siakam over MPJ is a real injustice.. as is LBJ over Kawhi. Just absurd.
Siakam shouldn’t make it over Ingram either.
Don’t forget KAT somehow making it over Embiid whose scoring 30 a night again
I think Embiid missed too many games. People are getting tired of him.
Yea but that arguement doesn’t really hold weight when it comes to Embiid and Kawhi when Lebron gets in with similar amount of games played (2 more than Embiid/ 4 less than Kawhi). But the joke of a league was never going to end Lebron’s streak no matter how warranted. Jokic would have got in reserves as well playing similar amount of games if not voted in but at least that would have been warranted.
People can get tired of Embiid it means they either have no clue about basketball or haven’t watched the Sixers lately. The year after MVP season 23-24 before getting injured he was playing a level I never seen from any player in my 45 years on either side of the court – it was insane and then he got hurt and was not the same at the beginning of this year the really eased him in and he literally wasn’t even jumping to protect the knee but the last month+ is the first time hes looked like he used and hes like 70% but getting better and that is better than all but a few in the NBA and it is also leading to winning I think I heard that we are like 10 and 4 in the last 14 games he played and he hasn’t been missing much time.
There is no way Lebron should be in and Kawhi or Embiid out based on basketball alone including games played but this league will choke on Lebron’s you know what to the day he leaves the league. I guess with all the money he made them I get why but let’s not pretend these selections are about play on the court.
Embiid is not an All-Star he missed too many games. Kawhi or Luri should have made it over LeBron. They’ve had more impact on their teams than LeBron has had.
Respectfully, LeBron shouldn’t be an All-Star, but league politics will always take over… Kawhi Leonard, Lauri Markannen, James Harden, Keyonte George, Alperen Sengun, etc. were more deserving. KAT shouldn’t be a reserve either but it is what it is
The Clippers have been the league’s hottest team for over a month and get no one in the AS game. 🤦♂️
Harden and Leonard should have made it how could they not find find room for them
Devin booker and Chet Holmgren are suspect compared to them
Devin Booker the best player on a team that is 7 games ahead of the clippers is an easy pick over both of them.
so now they are voting James in on flops as he is the flop king
Everyone arguing LeBron but lowkey Chet is their worst player imo
Norman Powell also from the east no wayyyy
There is a clear talent disparity in the East, but the disrespect that Norm is getting is crazy. The dude is the 9th leading Eastern Conference scorer, plus he’s having the best season of his career. KAT is the obvious worst selection in the East
Nah Powell doesn’t rebound, doesn’t playmake he’s just a scorer who averages a scratch over 20 a game. NAW is basically the same player.
Brandon Miller, Paolo Banchero, Brandon Ingram, Joel Embiid, MPJ, LaMelo Ball, Josh Giddey, Bam Adebayo, Evan Mobley, Alex Sarr and OG Anunoby all would’ve been better selections
Norman Powell is playing great and he should have made it last year over Harden so its only right they make up for it
Glad for Norm and Jamal Murray.
Ingram should have made it too. It is what it is.
Mobley is deserving as is Bam who has really elevated his game and is an assertive and aggressive force on the court. He has become extremely difficult to guard with his vastly improved 3-point shooting and as arsenal of go-to moves.
Other than like, the past 2 weeks of play, Bam was having a pretty bad offensive season
Sengun indeed is the biggest international snub
Embiid, MPJ, Harden, Leonard not making it is so sad
This list is bad.
If MPJ is not the injury replacement for Giannis there should be an investigation.
MPJ over Ingram???
It’s Porter by every metric. And Barnes is already on.
I’m a NYK fan, and am disappointed to see KAT on this year’s team. Yes, his skill set is made for an NBA All Star game. No defense, no shot discipline, BB IQ optional. But its supposed to be a game(s) involving the best 24 players. He hasn’t been that this year.
Chet and LeBron definitely dont deserve it.
OKC has best record in West they were going to get 2 All Stars.
A team sport like the NBA says you don’t need to have one standout.
Orlando doesn’t have a single player from the organization involved in any part of ALL Star Weekend.
Paolo: has sucked this season (inconsistency and regression)
Franz: has missed too many games to be considered
DBane: hasn’t had a good enough season and hasn’t met expectations a little bit
Wagner still hurt and Banchero I think missed too many games.
Anthony Black may participate in something
Far out….. My James is being so amazing for us.
He is trying so hard to be the GOAT.
The Derrick White disrespect is wild.
Derrick White has never played well enough to be an All-Star and has had a down year when he has expected to step up without Jayson Tatum
You can make a case for Towns, Bron, Siakam, Chet not going. Yet all 4 are on top teams.
Imo Sengun deserves to go. Does he go over Chet or Bron. It’s tough. Sengun is my only issue. But I get it.
All stat is absolutely joke wtf
Dillon Brooks and Sengun deserved it more than LeBron
There are 8 teams clearly in the tank: UTA, DAL, NOP, SAC, WAS, IND, BKN, CHA (9 if you want to include MEM)
Out of those teams only one player, Siakam, was selected and that’s probably due more to last season’s finals run. So maybe the NBA is sending a message?
Picking winners and losers this early in the season is dumb. Just like the NBA cup, I mean Middle East dictators cup.
I’d rather complain about the all NBA teams.
EC starters
G/ Maxey
G/ Cunningham
G/ Mitchell
FC/ Jalen Johnson
FC/ Giannis
Subs
G/ Giddey
G/ Brown
FC/ MPJ
FC/ Barnes
FC/ KAT
FC/ Embiid
FC/ Duren
Injury replacements
1/ Banchero (in for Giannis)
2/ Brunson
3/ Mobley
The Powell selection is a joke, right?
WC starters
G/ Luka
G/ SGA
FC/ Kawhi
FC/ Wemby
FC/ Jokic
Subs
G/ Harden
G/ Murray
G/ Austin Reaves
G/ Edwards
FC/ Avdija
FC/ Lauri
FC/ Sengun
Injury replacements
1/ KD
2/ Randle
3/ LBJ
And that’s the ultimate All-Star roster.