Antetokounmpo, Curry Head List Of All-Star Starters
The NBA’s 2026 All-Star starters have been set, the league announced today (Twitter links). Here are the 10 players who earned those spots:
Eastern Conference
- Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks)
- Jaylen Brown (Celtics)
- Jalen Brunson (Knicks)
- Cade Cunningham (Pistons)
- Tyrese Maxey (Sixers)
Western Conference
- Stephen Curry (Warriors)
- Luka Doncic (Lakers)
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder)
- Nikola Jokic (Nuggets)
- Victor Wembanyama (Spurs)
This season’s All-Star Game will have a U.S. vs. World format. The round-robin event is scheduled to be played Sunday, Feb. 15 at 5 p.m. ET at the Clippers’ Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif. Two teams of U.S. players and one team of international players (the World team) will compete in a tournament featuring four 12-minute games. The three teams will each have a minimum of eight players.
How the teams will be divvied up is yet to be determined.
Two-time MVP Antetokounmpo has been selected as a starter for the 10th consecutive season. 2024 Finals MVP Brown will be making his fifth All-Star appearance, while Brunson will be making his third consecutive appearance.
This marks Cunningham’s second NBA All-Star selection and first as a starter. Cunningham is the first Pistons player to be named an Eastern Conference starter in the All-Star Game since Allen Iverson in 2009. It will also be Maxey’s second All-Star appearance and first as a starter.
This will be Curry’s 12th All-Star Game and 11th as a starter. Doncic will be making his sixth All-Star appearance.
This marks the fourth career All-Star appearance for reigning NBA MVP and Finals MVP Gilgeous-Alexander and his third consecutive season as an All-Star starter. Three-time MVP Jokic has been named an All-Star for the eighth consecutive year. Wembanyama is the first Spurs player to be named an All-Star starter since Kawhi Leonard in 2017.
Fans accounted for 50% of the vote to determine the starters, while players and media accounted for 25% each. Wembanyama won a tiebreaker with the Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards for a starting spot. The full voting results can be found through this NBA.com link.
Hoops Rumors Chat Transcript: 1/19/2026
Hoops Rumors hosted a live chat today at 1:00 pm Central time (2:00 pm Eastern).
Pistons Notes: Keys To Success, Holland, Grades, Stewart, Duren
The Pistons will reach the midway point of the season on Monday with a solid grip on the top spot in the Eastern Conference. How have they achieved that status? In a subscriber-only story, The Detroit Free Press’ Omari Sankofa II breaks down three key elements to their success.
Sankofa highlights the Pistons’ defensive rating, points in the paint, and efficiency rating — they rank second in the league in each of those categories. Sankofa adds that the Pistons have won at least 30 of their first 40 games for just the second time in franchise history (along with 2005/06) and are on pace to win more than 60 games.
Here’s more on the Pistons:
- Key reserve and 2024 lottery pick Ron Holland is questionable to play in Monday’s showdown with the Celtics due to an illness, Hunter Patterson of The Athletic tweets. The Pistons and Celtics hold the top two spots in the Eastern Conference. Holland is averaging 8.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.4 steals in 21.1 minutes per game this season.
- As you might expect, Sanfoka gives out a lot of high midterm grades to the members of the roster. Isaiah Stewart and Daniss Jenkins got As, while Jalen Duren earned an A-minus. What about Cade Cunningham? He gets a B-plus — his subpar three-point shooting dragged down his grade — and no one got anything lower than a B-minus.
- Speaking of Stewart and Duren, “Dawg Pound” is now painted above their lockers in Detroit’s home arena. Why? The Athletic’s Fred Katz interviews the big man duo to explain the mentality they take on and off the court.
Jalen Williams Has Right Hamstring Strain, Out At Least 2 Weeks
January 19: Williams’ right hamstring strain will be reevaluated “in a couple of weeks,” according to the team’s PR department (Twitter link via Martinez).
January 18, 3:06 pm: Williams has been diagnosed with a right hamstring strain and will be out for Monday’s game at Cleveland, tweets Rylan Stiles of Sports Illustrated. The Thunder are typically cagey about providing injury timelines, but based on the diagnosis, Williams seems likely to miss multiple weeks.
January 18, 9:30 am: Thunder forward Jalen Williams suffered a right leg injury during Saturday’s loss at Miami, writes Justin Martinez of The Oklahoman (subscription required). Williams was technically ruled out with what the team called right thigh soreness, but he grabbed at his hamstring when the injury occurred about halfway through the second quarter (YouTube link).
Williams was able to limp off the court on his own, but he was hunched over in pain and was holding the back of his right leg (where the hamstring is located) for most of his steps. Head coach Mark Daigneault said the 24-year-old will be checked out on Sunday, tweets Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press.
The former Santa Clara star was sidelined for the first 19 games of the 2025/26 campaign after undergoing a pair of surgeries on his right wrist. Williams has made 24 appearances so far this season, averaging 16.8 points, 5.6 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 29.6 minutes per contest, with a shooting line of .470/.300/.833.
The fourth-year wing earned numerous accolades in ’24/25, making his first All-Star, All-NBA (third team) and All-Defensive (second team) appearances. He played a key role in helping Oklahoma City win the 2025 NBA Finals.
Williams didn’t talk to reporters after Saturday’s game, but he did make an ominous post on Instagram about the possible severity of the injury, per Andrew Schlect of The Athletic (Twitter link). The post is an image of a child in a toilet attempting to flush himself.
In another subscriber-only story for The Oklahoman, Martinez notes that Chet Holmgren will likely take on a larger scoring role if Williams misses additional time due to the leg injury.
Atlantic Notes: Barrett, Poeltl, Brunson, Hart, Embiid, George, Hauser
The Raptors are optimistic that forward RJ Barrett will be able to return to action soon, according to Michael Grange of Sportsnet. Barrett has missed 21 of the past 27 games due to a knee injury and a sprained ankle, but Grange states that he “showed no ill effects” after a hard workout prior to Sunday’s contest. There’s hope that he can be back on the court at some point during the current road trip, possibly by Wednesday’s game at Sacramento.
The team is less optimistic about center Jakob Poeltl, who has made just one brief appearance since December 15 because of a lower back strain. Poeltl also went through a pregame workout on Sunday, but Grange said it wasn’t nearly at full game speed. Toronto has reportedly explored Poeltl’s value on the trade market, but the lingering injury could make it tough to move him before the deadline.
Rookie forward Collin Murray-Boyles has been seeing time at center during Poeltl’s absence, but he had to leave Sunday’s game in the third quarter after being hit on the hand by Luka Doncic. X-rays were negative, and Murray-Boyles was diagnosed with a bruised thumb.
There’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart were able to participate Sunday in the Knicks‘ off-day workout, sources tell Ian Begley of SNY.tv (Twitter link). Both players are listed as questionable for today’s game against Dallas, with Brunson recovering from a right ankle sprain he suffered last Wednesday and Hart dealing with right ankle soreness.
- Joel Embiid and Paul George are listed as questionable to play as the Sixers prepare to host Indiana tonight, per Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter link). Both players may be held out due to left knee injury management.
- Sam Hauser fell just short on Saturday in his attempt to break the Celtics‘ record for most made three-pointers in a game, writes Jay King of The Athletic. There was plenty of time remaining when Hauser hit his 10th three, one away from Marcus Smart‘s record of 11, but he misfired on his final six attempts. “At that point, it was just like, let’s get them up. Let’s see what happens,” Hauser said. “And then I got dead tired. The last couple, they were on (target), they were just way short. So it is what it is.”
Pacers Sign Tony Bradley To Second 10-Day Contract
JANURY 19: Bradley’s second 10-day contract is official, the Pacers announced (via Twitter).
JANUARY 17: Tony Bradley‘s 10-day contract with the Pacers expired after Saturday’s game, but coach Rick Carlisle told reporters he’ll be signed to another 10-day deal, according to Tony East of Circle City Spin (Twitter link).
Bradley began the season on Indiana’s roster, but he was waived on January 5 before his $2,940,876 salary became fully guaranteed. He was re-signed to a 10-day deal three days later.
Bradley has appeared in six games since rejoining the team, logging at least 15 minutes four times, including tonight as he finished with 12 points and three rebounds in a loss to Detroit. He’s part of a crowded big man rotation along with Jay Huff, Isaiah Jackson and Micah Potter.
The 28-year-old center suffered a fracture on the tip of his right thumb in mid-December that forced him to play while wearing a splint. That and the addition of Potter, who played well after joining the team on December 26, helped to make Bradley expendable.
The Pacers don’t play again until Monday at Philadelphia, so they may wait until then to re-sign Bradley. Assuming that happens, his next 10-day contract would run through January 28, making him eligible for five more games.
Players are only permitted to sign two 10-day contracts with a team during each season. If Indiana wants to keep Bradley on the roster past then, he’ll have to be given a standard deal.
Kristaps Porzingis, Zaccharie Risacher To Miss At Least Another Week
The Hawks provided injury updates (via Twitter) Monday morning on Kristaps Porzingis and Zaccharie Risacher, saying both players are making progress with their recoveries and will be reevaluated in approximately one week.
Porzingis has missed the past five games with left Achilles tendinitis and has only played 17 times this season. Acquired over the summer in a trade with Boston, Porzingis has been effective when he’s been healthy, averaging 17.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 24.3 minutes per night while shooting 45.7% from the field and 36% from three-point range. He also missed significant time with an illness earlier this season.
Porzingis has been mentioned as a potential trade candidate, as his $30.7MM expiring contract could be useful in matching salaries.
Risacher, the top pick in the 2024 draft, has sat out the last five games with a left knee bone contusion. The 20-year-old small forward is averaging 11.2 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 24.6 minutes per night during his second NBA season while connecting at 46.2% from the field and 35.8% from beyond the arc. He has already missed eight games this season, exceeding his total from all of last year.
Atlanta has reportedly been unwilling to part with Risacher in trade talks, even to acquire a star player.
At 20-24, the Hawks are in a precarious position and will need a healthy lineup as soon as possible. They’re holding onto the East’s final play-in spot, 1.5 games ahead of the Bucks, whom they’ll host today in an afternoon matinee.
Nets Notes: Thomas, Porter, Fernandez, Traore
The Nets are pleased with Cam Thomas‘ performance off the bench since he returned from a hamstring injury roughly three weeks ago, but his role isn’t likely to expand, writes Brian Lewis of The New York Post. Thomas was mainly a facilitator in Sunday’s loss to Chicago, contributing three points and 10 assists in 24 minutes.
“Yeah, right now we’re happy where he is, with the minutes he’s playing with the production, being that willing play-maker; because we know how good he is scoring the basketball, and taking those steps defensively,” coach Jordi Fernandez told reporters before the game. “Right now we’re happy where he is. We need him to stay in those minutes a little longer because I, we, just believe what’s most important right now is his body, and (how) his body reacts. And we’re gonna be cautious with that.”
Thomas was hoping for a strong season heading into free agency this summer, but he has continued to be hampered by the same hamstring issues that limited him to 25 games last season. He’s averaging 12 PPG since returning while shooting 40.8% from the field and 34% from beyond the arc, and Lewis notes that Brooklyn is just 4-16 in the games he’s played.
“He’s been sticking with it. He’s had a little bit of a stretch. But like you said just him staying engaged, staying sticking through it with us,” Nic Claxton said. “And if it’s his process as well, you know he’ll start knocking down those shots.”
There’s more on the Nets:
- The team remains winless without Michael Porter Jr., who was held out of Sunday’s game for rest, Lewis states in a separate story. The Nets are 0-8 without their leading scorer and have been outscored in those games by an average of 16.1 points. “Everything has to be done with purpose,” Fernandez said. “You cannot just run around crazy and that’s it. So, that’s very important. No matter who we have out there … I believe we can go out, compete and win. And (Sunday) we didn’t compete to the best of our ability. So, I’m the first one to blame. Watch film (Monday), try to compete better.”
- After watching his team give up 70 points in the first half, Fernandez tried to send a message by pulling four starters for the beginning of the third quarter, replacing Danny Wolf, Terance Mann, Egor Demin and Noah Clowney with Thomas, Nolan Traore, Jalen Wilson and Tyrese Martin, Lewis adds. The changes didn’t spark a rally as Chicago maintained a comfortable lead the rest of the way. “Yeah, it can be rough, but it’s a part of the game. You’ve got to be able to adjust. That’s what we’re dealing with this year. You’ve got to be ready for whatever lineups and our energy needs to be consistent,” Claxton said.
- Traore finished with a career-high 16 points on Sunday after posting a career-best seven assists in Friday’s meeting between the two teams. The rookie point guard has been earning the trust of the coaching staff and his teammates throughout the season, notes C.J. Holmes of The New York Daily News (subscription required). “His superpower is obviously his speed, his foot speed,” Porter said. “And he’s been utilizing that, getting downhill, getting in the lane, finding guys, and he’s a great passer. So, he’s going to be really good … and I’m looking forward to seeing how he develops, him and Egor at that point guard position.”
Teams Holding Onto Assets For Potential Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bucks officials have both attempted to quash speculation about a potential trade over the past two weeks, but teams around the league continue to closely monitor the situation, according to two prominent NBA observers.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said during a recent appearance on NBA Countdown (YouTube link) that numerous deals are on hold because rival teams aren’t convinced that Antetokounmpo won’t be moved by the February 5 trade deadline. General managers are reluctant to part with assets that could be useful if the two-time MVP were suddenly to become available over the next two-and-a-half weeks.
“The biggest question in the NBA right now is are the Bucks really going to stand for this and is Giannis really going to stand for this,” Windhorst said. “And I know what Giannis has said on the record and I know that the Bucks have been out there trying to buy, but I’m telling you when I talk to people in the league, they’re still holding, waiting to see. … There are deals that are on hold … because teams still aren’t 100% sure whether Giannis is going to be on the team the rest of the year, and these last few games have made them even stutter some more.”
NBA insider Zach Lowe identifies the Hawks, Warriors, Lakers, Heat and Knicks as teams that are “considering holding onto their assets for a potential pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo now or in the summer” (Twitter video link). Lowe notes that Antetokounmpo, who’s signed through next season and holds a $62.8MM player option for 2027/28, will become eligible for an extension in October.
“If he doesn’t take that extension, that’s the same things as basically demanding a trade,” Lowe said. “… Right now, the Bucks are only 5-5 since he came back from injury. They are getting shellacked every second that he’s off the floor on the bench resting. They’re still in 11th in the East, and the time to convince him that this group can actually do anything serious might be now.”
Lowe suggests the Bucks should target Grizzlies guard Ja Morant in their search for immediate help. Morant, who had 24 points and 13 assists on Sunday as he returned from a right calf injury, has been among the most prominent names on the trade market, but he said after the game that he’s a “loyal guy” and prefers to stay in Memphis.
“The whole league is watching,” Lowe added. “If they slide any further down the standings, if they can’t even get up to 10th or ninth in the East, does Giannis push the button now instead of waiting until the summer? It’s the biggest story in the NBA potentially.”
Milwaukee is coming off a miserable week, dropping three straight games, including an 18-point loss to San Antonio and a 33-point loss to Minnesota. At 17-24, the team is still only 1.5 games behind 10th-place Atlanta for the East’s final play-in spot and 2.5 games in back of ninth-place Chicago.
The Bucks have sent out strong indications that they’ll approach the trade deadline as buyers in hopes of making a late-season run. But they have limited trade assets available and are reportedly reluctant to part with their lone tradable first-round pick (in either 2031 or 2032).
Even if Milwaukee manages to earn a playoff spot, there’s no guarantee that will satisfy Antetokounmpo, who has stated repeatedly that he wants to win another championship before he retires. Regardless of the Bucks’ official position, teams are preparing for the possibility that a trade might happen by the deadline.
Atlantic Notes: Simons, Barrett, Bridges, McCain
Anfernee Simons had his best game of the season for the Celtics on Thursday night in a 119-114 win over the Heat, writes Jay King for The Athletic. Simons scored 18 points in the fourth quarter and finished the game with 39 points while hitting seven threes, all while coming off the bench.
“I think he definitely was in that mode tonight where, let’s get him the ball and get out of the way and let him be special,” teammate Sam Hauser said.
Jaylen Brown, who ceded the role of closer to Simons for the night, had similarly high praise.
“That boy can play,” Brown said. “He’s probably more talented than the role that he’s placed in. I think that’s kind of obvious, but I have hella respect for him to come out and play winning basketball and do what the team needs (him) to do on a night-in and night-out basis. He doesn’t complain. He just brings good energy and just contributes in a positive way.”
After he spent several seasons with a sub-.500 Blazers team, it was unclear whether Simons played a winning brand of basketball, King writes. According to Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal, there’s a feeling that, to an extent, those questions have been answered and that Simons has boosted his trade stock this season.
The Celtics have been rumored to be in the market for a big man, but Simons’ play could make the team more reluctant than expected to move him, unless a deal brings back a longer-term impact player.
We have more notes from around the Atlantic Division:
- RJ Barrett is missing a fifth straight game on Sunday due to a left ankle sprain, but the Raptors forward seems to be moving in the right direction. Michael Grange of Sportsnet reports (via Twitter) that Barrett has begun doing on-court work, adding that the 25-year-old wing was practicing with intensity and doesn’t appear to be favoring the ankle. Grange expects Barrett to return sometime during the Raptors’ five-game road trip, which runs through next Sunday (Twitter link).
- The Knicks‘ recent struggles can be traced to many different sources, but one key factor has been the play of Mikal Bridges in the fourth quarter, writes Stefan Bondy of the New York Post. According to Bondy, Bridges is averaging just 3.5 points on 42.4% shooting in fourth quarters despite playing the most minutes of any Knick, compared to 55.2% shooting during first halves. Bridges has also struggled to play with physicality — Bondy notes that there are 80 players in the league who play fewer minutes and average more free throws than the 6’6″ wing. The biggest issue, though, is how he’s struggled to step up when Jalen Brunson is unavailable to play. After being brought in to be a tertiary offensive creator, Bridges has averaged just 17.8 points in the five games without Brunson, in which time the Knicks hold a record of 1-4. There were similar concerns about Bridges’ play last season, Bondy notes, and he stepped up when needed in the playoffs.
- Jared McCain was assigned to the Sixers‘ G League affiliate on Saturday after struggling to retain a role in the rotation in his second season, writes Kyle Neubeck of PHLY. McCain hasn’t been able to find his offensive consistency, shooting just 35.4% from the field and 32.3% from three, both dramatic declines from his shortened rookie season, when he shot 46.0% overall and 38.3% from deep. As Neubeck relays, head coach Nick Nurse has maintained that the most important thing for the second-year player is getting minutes and getting comfortable. McCain’s struggles seemed to continue in the G League, however. Playing for the Delaware Blue Coats on Sunday, McCain scored 15 points on 5-of-18 shooting while hitting just 2-of-9 threes and committing six turnovers (to zero assists), per Adam Aaronson of the Philly Voice (Twitter link).