Projecting rosters for USA vs. World All-Star Game

The NBA All-Star Game needed a lifeline, and the league hopes that the introduction of a USA-versus-World format will provide exactly that.

The annual showcase will still feature 24 players selected by votes from fans (weighted at 50%), players (25%), and media (25%), with the only change being the elimination of frontcourt and backcourt position designations. Selections will be divided by conference as usual, and commissioner Adam Silver will then add players, if needed, to ensure there are 16 U.S. and eight international players.

A round-robin tournament comprised of three teams with eight players each will determine which two teams will square off in the final. There will be one team made up of international players and two evenly distributed with American stars. The league's process for assigning players to the two Team USA squads will be determined at a later date.

Now that one-quarter of the campaign is in the books, here's a look at our picks for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game. These selections are based on merit and how likely voters are to reward reputation.

Team USA (Team A)

The senior member of this squad is Kevin Durant, who merits a 16th All-Star selection for his stellar start in Houston despite his scoring average (25.3) being the lowest since his first season with the Warriors. The other forward, Jaylen Brown, deserves inclusion for his career-high 29.1 points per game for the shorthanded Celtics.

The four-man backcourt is stacked with elite scorers and facilitators. There should be little doubt that Devin Booker, Jalen Brunson, Anthony Edwards, and Donovan Mitchell have earned their places and should garner consideration from fans, fellow players, and media alike.

The selection of Chet Holmgren is also a no-brainer, considering the Thunder's exceptional record and the fact that Oklahoma City's 2025 first-time All-Star, Jalen Williams, missed the first 19 games of the season due to injury. Joining Holmgren in the frontcourt is New Jersey-born Karl-Anthony Towns, who meets the criteria despite playing internationally for the Dominican Republic.

Team USA (Team B)

The second Team USA group is a mix of up-and-coming superstars and some of the game's most legendary names. LeBron James will obviously get selected for a record-extending 22nd All-Star Game despite missing the first 14 games of the regular season due to sciatica.

Also included are four of the league's top 12 scorers this season, with Tyrese Maxey (31.5), Steph Curry (27.9), Cade Cunningham (27.5), and James Harden (26.8) forming a formidable backcourt quartet. Cunningham's Pistons teammate Jalen Duren gets his first nod for his contributions to the upstart Eastern Conference leaders. Raptors Swiss Army knife Scottie Barnes also gets the call for his role as the fulcrum of a surprisingly strong Toronto squad.

There's no shortage of stars who could miss out on the U.S. teams based on the new criteria. Julius Randle (Timberwolves), Brandon Ingram (Raptors), Evan Mobley (Cavaliers), Austin Reaves (Lakers), Paolo Banchero (Magic), Amen Thompson (Rockets), and Jalen Johnson (Hawks) are some of the best players who could be free to take a mid-February vacation.

Team World

The dominance of foreign-born players on the Most Valuable Player award is reflected in this side, which features six of the last seven winners (Cameroon-born 2022-23 recipient Joel Embiid not included). This might also be the most balanced of the three hypothetical All-Star rosters.

All of the names here are obvious choices. Josh Giddey, who's nearly averaging a triple-double with the Bulls, edges three-time All-Star Pascal Siakam because a) the group needs another guard, and b) the Pacers are horrible. Giddey joins Ben Simmons and Kyrie Irving as the only Australia-born players to make an All-Star Game. Teaming with him in the backcourt are Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luka Doncic, forming a trio of guards capable of playing on and off the ball.

Thoughts and prayers for the Team USA frontcourts that have to deal with a menacing trio of Nikola Jokic, Alperen Sengun, and Victor Wembanyama. Jokic, a three-time MVP, is the NBA's best passing big man, and Sengun is no slouch in that department either with 7.1 assists per game, second only to Jokic among centers. They are going to find shooters. And then there's the task of guarding 7-foot-4 Wembanyama, who led the league in rebounds and blocks before being sidelined with a calf strain in November. He's already shown that he takes the All-Star Game more seriously than his peers.

There are several All-Star caliber international players who miss out in this scenario. Chief among them are Siakam, Franz Wagner (Magic), Deni Avdija (Blazers), and Jamal Murray (Nuggets). RJ Barrett (Raptors), Nikola Vucevic (Bulls), OG Anunoby (Knicks), Shaedon Sharpe (Blazers), and Dyson Daniels (Hawks) are among the names who would be in contention if the field was expanded to two international teams.