By Joel Reyes

 

History will be made in the 2026 NBA All-Star Game this coming Monday (PH time), as a USA vs. World format will be used for the first time in the showpiece event at the Intuit Dome. 

 

A total of 25 players will participate in this year’s All-Star Game, nine of which are placed on Team World. The remaining 16 players will be divided into two American groups, namely: USA Stars and USA Stripes.

 

We break down the rosters for the three teams competing in the mini-tournament, as well as the format for the 2026 All-Star Game. 

 

2026 NBA All-Star Game Rosters  Team World

 

A bunch of talented Europeans feature in Team World’s lineup, with three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic, and San Antonio Spurs big man Victor Wembanyama among the players at Coach Darko Rajakovic’s disposal.

 

 

They will be joined by Jamal Murray, Deni Avdija, Pascal Siakam, Karl-Anthony Towns, Alperen Sengun, and Norman Powell. Sengun was named as a replacement for reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who suffered an abdominal injury days before the All-Star Weekend.

 

Giannis Antetokounmpo was supposed to be a part of Team World as well, but a calf injury ruled him out of the All-Star Game. Powell slid over to Team World as a result, with the Miami Heat star previously named as a member of USA Stripes. 

 

 

This USA team is made up of younger American All-Stars. They include Scottie Barnes, Devin Booker, Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duren, Anthony Edwards, Chet Holmgren, Jalen Johnson, and Tyrese Maxey. Detroit Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff will be the one tasked to lead this squad.

 

 

 

The OGs of American basketball represent USA Stripes, with LeBron James and Kevin Durant heading this veteran unit. They are joined by Jalen Brunson, Jaylen Brown, Kawhi Leonard, Donovan Mitchell, Brandon Ingram, and De’Aaron Fox. Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry was supposed to be a part of USA Stripes as well, but a lingering knee injury forced him out of this year’s All-Star Game. Ingram was named Curry’s replacement. Fox also was inserted into the USA Stripes’ lineup after he was selected to replace the injured Antetokounmpo in the All-Star Game.

 

 

 

A single round-robin format will be used for the mini-tournament, with the top two teams advancing to the championship game. Each game in the elimination round will last 12 minutes. In case of a three-way tie for first place after the elimination round, a point differential will be used as a tiebreaker.

 

The first game will feature a showdown between USA Stars and Team World. The second game will then feature a clash between USA Stripes and the winner of the USA Stars vs. Team World showdown. The final game in the elimination round will be between USA Stripes and the loser of the USA Stars vs. Team World matchup.

 

The fourth and final matchup in the 2026 All-Star Game will be the championship decider. The champions will each receive $125,000. Players on the second-placed team will each take home $50,000, while players of the third-placed team will each receive $25,000.