By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Deni Avdija has entered the 2026 NBA All-Star Game field as a Western Conference reserve.
Following the ten starters, 14 more players were added to the list on Sunday, seven from each conference. The head coaches made the most recent selections announced by the league.
Eastern Conference: Scottie Barnes (Toronto Raptors), Jalen Duren (Detroit Pistons), Jalen Johnson (Atlanta Hawks), Donovan Mitchell (Cleveland Cavaliers), Norman Powell (Miami Heat), Pascal Siakam (Indiana Pacers), Karl-Anthony Towns (New York Knicks).
Western Conference: Deni Avdija (Portland Trail Blazers), Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns), Kevin Durant (Houston Rockets), Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves), Chet Holmgren (Oklahoma City Thunder), LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers), and Jamal Murray (Denver Nuggets).
Avdija is among six first-time All-Stars, along with Duren, Holmgren, Johnon, Murray, and Powell. James earned his 22nd selection, Durant his 16th, with Mitchell at 7, Towns at 6, Booker at 5, Edwards and Siakam at 4, and Barnes at 2. In contrast, Turkish Alperen Sengun and Finnish Lauri Markkanen are among notable snubs, but can still get the nod as injury replacements, similar to Joel Embiid, Kawhi Leonard, and others.
The 24 All-Stars will be split into three eight-team squads on Tuesday, including one with international players. Besides the Israeli forward, other players on Team World will apparently be starters, Greek Giannis Antetokounmpo, Slovenian Luka Doncic, Serbian Nikola Jokic, French Victor Wembanyama, and Canadian Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Reserves in Canadian Murray, Jamaican Powell, Cameroonian Siakam and Dominican Towns increase international options to ten, but the Freak is likely to be eventually replaced due to injury, which would leave nine.
Based on dual citizenship, Towns or Powell, or both if another international player gets called to replace Giannis, can go to one of the two squads with American players.
The All-Star Game will be hosted by the Los Angeles Clippers in Intuit Dome on February 15.