By: Will Mandeville 

     The NBA All-Star Game will bring the league’s best players together as they prepare to put on a showcase of talent and performance. The 2026 NBA All-Star Game will be held February 13 to the 15 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, hosted by the LA Clippers. 

     The game consists of the best players from the Eastern and Western Conferences. This will make up the two teams that will compete against each other. The players that make up the East starting five are Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jaylen Brown, Jalen Brunson, Cade Cunningham, and Tyrese Maxey. The players that make up the West starting five are Stephen Curry, Luka Dončić, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokić, and Victor Wembanyama. 

     With the uprising stars of the NBA this year, there is some controversy about LeBron James not being voted as a starter after twenty-one years in a row of being named a starter. The Squire interviewed, junior Eisenhower Knights basketball player Gavin Reynolds, for his feelings about James not starting this year, as he shared, “I think it was bound to come as the players in the NBA are rapidly improving and he is not because of his age.”  

     Due to James and other players from last year not starting, it gives newer players the chance to show their skills and talents to the fans. Since the teams are mixed, there are different players from different teams. The Squire interviewed Gavin Reynolds, to find out which team he thinks will win. He commented, “I think the West will win as they are more well-rounded and have a definite height advantage.” With the West having 7’4” Wembanyama and 6’11” Jokić, they can out rebound the other team. They both average 11-12 rebounds per game, which can help Gilgeous-Alexander, Dončić, and Curry have more chances to shoot three pointers.  

     The East also has some well-rounded players, such as Maxey who averages 29.4 points per game and Brown who averages 29.6 points per game along with 6.8 rebounds per game. This will make for an exciting game for the fans and the players since they are able to play on the same team with other players they don’t usually play with.  

     Make sure to be ready to watch the NBA All-Star Game soon on FOX Sports, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and more to cheer on your favorite players and the team you like most!