The Most Deserving 2025-26 All-Star Teams

Late Friday snowstorm edition of Basketball Poetry! Everyone, please stay warm and safe this weekend. I can’t afford to have any subscribers turn into popsicles.

The All-Star game will have yet another new format, featuring three teams (two from the United States, one made up of international players) playing four round-robin 12-minute games. Although we are still picking two twelve-man rosters from each conference, there must be at least 16 US players and eight international players — this will be important later! Positions are no longer considered.

I’m mildly optimistic that this format will work, in the sense that the games are so short players almost have to try. And appealing to players’ jingoistic sensibilities makes sense on paper; hockey saw resounding success with its 4 Nations Face-Off tournament last year (although geography and hockey have a far deeper and more meaningful relationship than geography and basketball).

But the NBA All-Star game is only fun once every three or four years; hoping for anything else is foolish. This will never be totally fixable, despite our wishes. Personally, I’d just bring back the Elam ending permanently and leave it alone.

Of course, the game itself is beside the point. Making the team is important for players. For recognition, for ego, for marketing opportunities, for long-term legacy and Hall-of-Fame bullet points. It matters!

(Note: Although the European players have generally been the ones who have shown the most disdain for the All-Star game, Victor Wembanyama is leading the charge for more intensity. Wemby, to Complex Sports: “I want to push the great players of the sport to play in the All-Star game just as hard as I will. We’ll see how it goes, but if they don’t play hard, I’ll do it without them.” Man, I love this guy.)

The starters have already been announced, and the coaches will select the reserves shortly. But even though I have no say in the matter, I spend a lot of time thinking about who is deserving. There are at least a few coaches who read Basketball Poetry from time to time, and they have way more important things to do than parse out the differences between the East’s 12th- and 13th-best players. Allow me to do the hard work.

Note: I absolutely do not care whatsoever who starts and who doesn’t. Nobody ever looks back at a player’s career and says, “Player X made 10 All-Star games, starting in five of them!” It doesn’t matter, but I’ve picked them to obey convention. If you have strong feelings about the matter, I will readily acquiesce in the comments to avoid having to talk about it.

The Deserving Eastern Conference All-Stars

Starters: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Cade Cunningham, Jaylen Brown, Donovan Mitchell, Tyrese Maxey

Reserves: Jalen Brunson, Jalen Johnson, Scottie Barnes, Pascal Siakam, Jalen Duren, Michael Porter Jr., Karl-Anthony Towns

Let’s blow through the easy choices. Giannis has only played 29 games, but he’s been the best player in the East by so, so much. Even with a down shooting season, Cade Cunningham is a monster who has led the Pistons to first place in the East with a bullet. I just wrote about Jaylen Brown’s huge second quarter here.

The final two starting spots came down to three guards: Donovan Mitchell, Tyrese Maxey, and Jalen Brunson. Mitchell is making impossible shot after impossible shot every night. A not-untalented Cavs team dies without him, and he’s also the best defender of the group. Mitchell was a bit above the other two for me, although he missed out on a starting spot IRL.

Maxey and Brunson have similar statistics on a per-possession basis (Maxey’s per-game numbers are a bit inflated by Nick Nurse’s typically negligent rotations) and efficiency numbers, but Maxey is a little better off the ball, and he’s a far more dynamic defensive playmaker. As great as Brunson’s been, he’s not quite at the peak of his powers.

Regardless, you can pick whichever two of those three you prefer without any arguments from me.

Jalen Johnson is another lock. I pegged him as an All-Star last season, and he’s been way better this season despite some slippage on defense. 23/10/8 on solid efficiency while adjusting to a new role as the alpha dog is no joke.

Scottie Barnes should be a shoo-in, although Brandon Ingram may cannibalize some of his votes as the number-one option on Toronto’s offense. Barnes has willingly shifted to a healthier shot diet while ramping up his defensive activity to near-DPOY levels, and he’s a gifted passer (almost to a fault):

Barnes has finally cut the fat from his game, and it’s made the Raptors far better (and more watchable).

And now, a rant. I went on RealGM radio yesterday, making the case for why Pascal Siakam is a no-brainer All-Star (watch me get upset here).

Specifically, I cannot believe how many people look at Siakam, throw his successes in the trash due to how terrible Indiana is, and still pick Michael Porter, of the similarly bottom-feeding Nets, as an All-Star. Yes, the Pacers are outscored with Siakam on the floor. But he has an on/off of +14.8, one of the highest in the league. His most common running mates include Jay Huff, who has never been in an NBA rotation until this year, and 26-year-old rookie Ethan Thompson, who has great hair and no scoring ability whatsoever.

The Pacers go from slightly below-average with Siakam to the basketball apocalypse without him. He’s putting up good counting stats on decent efficiency (when adjusted for difficulty and environment, anyway) and playing hard on defense despite a constantly injured and talent-bereft supporting cast. And we know from two straight deep playoff runs that Siakam is hardly an empty-calorie player. What more can one man do?

My favorite Siakam moments are when he comes out of a timeout or commercial break, acts like he’s about to casually initiate a hand-off or pitch action, and instead vrooms past defenders too stunned to be affronted by his trickery:

Once an out-of-control whirling dervish who lived in transition, Siakam has become one of the most controlled, calculating, and technically sound scorers in the league. Pull-up threes, stepback middies, sweeping layups, brutal post smashes, canny cuts, tip-ins. There are few players more well-rounded.

Is Brandon Ingram better than Siakam? (No.) Is Norm Powell better than Siakam? (No.) Is Jalen Duren better than Siakam? (No.) Is Michael Porter Jr. better than Siakam? (No.)

The Knicks would be a better team if Siakam Freaky Fridays with Karl-Anthony Towns. I’m dangerously close to saying the same about the Heat’s Bam Adebayo, one of my favorite players over the years.

Some of the names above are gonna make my team anyway, and they’re all awesome players in their own right! But none are having better seasons than the Cameroonian forward. I’m almost 100% sure he’ll miss the actual game, and it’ll be a shame.

Let me catch my breath. Alright. Moving on.

Those are nine names who ought to be no-brainer inclusions. That leaves three spots for a bunch of guys who are all having nice years but don’t necessarily pop off the page. Regardless, we adjudicate.

Jalen Duren has taken monumental strides on both sides of the ball. He is a deserving frontrunner for Most Improved, and he’s shored up his bad habits to the point that the Pistons remain an impenetrable defense when he’s on the court without either Ausar Thompson or Isaiah Stewart. His step forward is perhaps the biggest reason the Pistons have surprised with their early-season success. He’s in, and I’m confident he’ll make the real game.

Michael Porter Jr. has a similar case to Siakam. The Nets do not have much talent around him, and they go from blah to catastrophic whenever he isn’t playing. MPJ’s shotmaking has been even better than expected, but the real surprise is how much of a team player he’s been. He’s taking a lot of shots, but the Nets have a bunch of raw youngsters still feeling their way into the league, so it never feels like it sidetracks the offense. He’s in, although I’m gonna be big mad if and when he makes the real game and Siakam doesn’t.

The last spot came down to two Heat players and a Knick, a classic ‘90s rivalry in new form. Norm Powell and Bam Adebayo have similar on/off and on-only numbers, and while Bam is the heart and soul of Miami’s 10th-ranked defense, the team’s offense dies without Powell. Both have solid cases.

But I have to give my final spot to Karl-Anthony Towns. He outranks both Heat guys in EPM and LEBRON, and he has better on/off splits and the Knicks are better in his minutes than the Heat are with either Powell or Bam. The shooting is down, but still a weapon, and he’s one of the best rebounding big men in the game, too.

It feels weird to keep Towns on the roster, given that the Knicks are swooning hard, and Towns’ relationship with his teammates and coach is at the center of it all. The vibes in New York aren’t great right now. He commits the worst Heisman-pose offensive fouls in the league. But I don’t want to be a prisoner of the moment here, and it’s hard to find a tangible reason to leave him off the team that isn’t recency-bias-based.

Josh Giddey has a pretty good case if you can get over the mehness of the Bulls (which, given my ramblings above about Siakam, you know I can!). People haven’t quite caught on to the fact that he’s shooting 39% from deep on pretty close to average volume, and he’s collecting statistics like Pokémon cards. But his story really begins and ends at the box score. The Bulls are mediocre with him, but unlike Siakam, they’re about the same when he’s off. Advanced stats think he’s more “pretty good” than “All-Star,” and he’s only played 31 of 44 games. He misses the cut.

Kon Knueppel and LaMelo Ball both have stronger cases than I initially realized. Knueppel’s insane jump-shooting both on and off the ball has a halo effect on everything else, and every time the Hornets throw a new wrinkle at him, he irons it out with aplomb. Ball’s defense and decision-making always leave something to be desired, but advanced stats love him, and the Hornets are way, way better when he plays than when he doesn’t.

Encouragingly, the Hornets are actually elite — not okay, not good, but elite — when Knueppel, Ball, and Brandon Miller play together (the starting lineup of those three plus Moussa Diabate and Miles Bridges is one of the best in the league!). They’ve been really feisty recently, now that they’re healthy. I couldn’t quite find room on the roster for either Bug this year, but I think it’s more likely than not that at least one makes the cut next season.

Derrick White has bounced back defensively, and he’s always an advanced stats darling. But he’s also struggled offensively under an increased load. I couldn’t quite make room for him, but I respect those of you who can.

Brandon Ingram has been good! I was mildly optimistic about the Raptors’ trade for him last season, which made me look like a drooling superfan compared to the rest of the media landscape, and I’m pleased that he’s lived up to my expectations. Barnes is still the more impactful player, but coaches have to gameplan for Ingram first and foremost every night; I’ll be curious to see which Raptor they reward.

I’m sad that Evan Mobley didn’t deserve more serious consideration this season.

The Deserving Western Conference All-Stars

Starters: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, Victor Wembanyama, Luka Doncic, Anthony Edwards

Reserves: Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, Jamal Murray, Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, Deni Avdija, Alperen Sengun (Bonus: Chet Holmgren, Devin Booker)

SGA is the frontrunner for MVP. Both Jokic and Wemby are dangerously close to not playing enough games to qualify for me, but 30ish matches from them is worth more than 35 from a fringe All-Star. Luka Doncic leads the league in scoring, over-the-head blind passes, free throw makes, free throw attempts, and wah-wahing about not having enough free throw attempts.

Those four are easy. The fifth spot came down to Steph Curry vs. Anthony Edwards.

Curry continues to defy the aging curve one wonderball at a time. He’s leading the league in threes attempted on a per-game and per-possession basis, and nailing nearly 40% of them — and these are some of the hardest, most well-guarded shots in the game! Somehow, he’s also shooting 59% on twos, which would be his best mark in a half-decade. His touch remains sublime:

The Warriors’ season is a depressing mess, but don’t miss out on Curry while you can still catch him, folks.

Edwards is only a little bit worse of a shooter at this point, and he’s a far better defender. He’s also less loosey-goosey with the rock, which matters. He gets the nod, but if you want to honor the old guy, you’ll get no complaints. They’re both easy, easy selections.

What else is there to say about Kevin Durant? He’s doing the same thing he always does. 26 points on 51/40/89 percent shooting splits at the age of 37. The Rockets’ offensive system does him no favors spacing-wise, and yet his shot chart still looks like someone made my screen bleed:

Death, taxes, and Durant bucket-getting.

Jamal Murray is an easy inclusion for me here. He was already having the best season of his life, but his ability to carry the load without Jokic for an extended stretch has been crucial. He’s at his apex best as a difficult shotmaker, and he’s fully leaned into the passing flashes we’ve seen from him before to become one of the league’s most dynamic on-ball playmakers.

I don’t really want to put Kawhi Leonard on here. I’d rather ding him for his role in the Aspiration stuff, and he’s still only played 31 games, right at the point where I feel queasy including someone without an unimpeachable resume.

But despite my best efforts, I can’t find any peaches here. When Leonard’s been on the court, he’s arguably having his best season ever. He’s averaging a career-best in scoring (28.1 points per game) and he’s leading the league in steals. Advanced metrics like EPM and LEBRON still see a top-six player, and the eye test agrees. This is about as good as Leonard has ever been, and that’s quite the bar to top.

James Harden might feel like an odd pick, but he’s having arguably his best offensive season of the decade. 26 points, eight assists, five rebounds, and excellent overall efficiency numbers despite shooting just 34% from deep. He’s even getting to the rim again! Surprisingly, he actually shot better and put up even bigger counting stats in Leonard’s long absence to start the year. Don’t look now (seriously, don’t), but the Clippers are 14-3 in their last 17 games, with some pretty solid wins.

Deni Avdija is the number-one option on the surging Trail Blazers and is averaging 26/7/7 on excellent efficiency, thanks to a newfound love for free throws. It’s almost comical how many ways he has developed to get to his preferred right hand:

Those 11 players were relatively simple selections. Alperen Sengun sneaks into my last spot. Although he’s having a little trouble finishing at the rim this season, and can clog the crunchtime offense, he’s also capable of doing so many things for the Rockets. He can direct cutters with his back to the basket, brutalize smaller defenders on switches, maul the glass. He’s even turned himself into a fairly dynamic defensive playmaker.

Now, you’ll notice that I have two bonus selections. That’s because the format of the All-Star game requires at least 16 US players, and as I chose them, I had ten international players (Giannis, Siakam, Towns, SGA, Jokic, Wemby, Doncic, Sengun, Murray, Avdija) and just 14 Americans (Cade, Brown, Maxey, Mitchell, Brunson, Johnson, Barnes, Duren, MPJ, Curry, Edwards, Durant, Leonard, and Harden). The league has already said they’ll simply add more players if an imbalance is present, as it is here.

Thanks to this, I really didn’t have to make too many tough decisions! Hurray for loopholes!

Leaving off Chet Holmgren would have hurt, as he’s been one of the league’s best defenders and a versatile, reliable offensive threat. Truthfully, if I were forced to pick just 12 players from the West, I might’ve slid him over Sengun. Devin Booker’s shooting numbers have dipped this year, but he’s played with two-way force and kept a plucky Suns team right in the brutal West playoff mix. Both deserve acknowledgement, and while I don’t think Booker will make the cut in real life, I’m glad it worked out in this here newsletter.

Julius Randle is the guy I felt worst leaving off, as he’s having an excellent, steady year in Minnesota. He’s never looked more comfortable in his own skin.

After Randle, injuries have really cut the playing field.

Lauri Markkanen’s on-court impact is undeniable, but he’s missed a ton of time, too, and that counts against him for timebreaker purposes. I couldn’t quite justify his inclusion, but I kind of hope the coaches find a spot for him, anyway.

Jimmy Butler had been awesome and would’ve been a consideration for the last spot, but he wouldn’t be able to play in the game after his torn ACL, anyway. I hope he makes a full recovery and can get back to his typical 20/5/5 with underrated ballhawking and turnover-suppressing abilities next year.

Neither LeBron James nor Austin Reaves has played enough to warrant a spot, though rumors suggest the NBA may give James a lifetime achievement nod similar to the ones Dirk Nowitzki and Dwyane Wade received in their final seasons. Is this James’s last season? Who knows?

Jaren Jackson Jr. may have deserved a look, but he’s reverted back to some of his worst tendencies on both sides: too many fouls, too many turnovers, too many floaters. What Memphis decides to do with him is perhaps the trade deadline’s most underappreciated storyline.