2026 All-Star Game set as reserves bared

Sports

ALL is set for the 2026 All-Star Game as the NBA on Monday (Philippine time), Feb. 2, announced the reserves for the annual spectacle.

Fourteen players, seven each from the Western and Eastern Conferences, were named as reserves, setting the stage for the much-awaited event putting the world’s brightest basketball athletes.

The league previously announced the starters before coaches selected the reserves without regard to position

The East starters are Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks, Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics, Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks, Cade Cunningham of the Detroit Pistons, and Tyrese Maxey of the Philadelphia 76ers.

The East reserves are Scottie Barnes of the Toronto Raptors, Jalen Duren of the Pistons, Jalen Johnson of the Atlanta Hawks, Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Norman Powell of the Miami Heat, Pascal Siakam of the Indiana Pacers, and Karl-Anthony Towns of the Knicks.

For the West All-Stars, starters are Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors, Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets, and Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs.

Named West reserves are Deni Avdija of the Portland Trail Blazers, Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns, Kevin Durant of the Houston Rockets, Anthony Edwardsof the Minnesota Timberwolves, Chet Holmgren of the Thunder, LeBron James of the Lakers, and Jamal Murray of the Nuggets.

Duren, Johnson, Powell, Advija, Holmgren, and Murray are appearing in their first-ever All-Star Game.

A new format will be introduced in this year’s All-Star Game in which two teams of U.S. players and one team of international players (known as the World team) will compete in a round-robin tournament featuring four 12-minute games. The three teams will each have a minimum of eight players.

The 75th edition of the All-Star Game will take place on Feb. 16 (Philippine time) at the Inuit Dome, the home of the LA Clippers in Inglewood, California.(CCM)