LeBron James Extends Streak As NBA All-Star Snubs Spark Debate

The NBA All-Star Game is always a spectacle, but the 2026 edition is shaping up to be one of the most talked-about in recent memory. With the league unveiling a brand-new 'U.S. vs. World' format and a host of surprising selections—and omissions—this year’s festivities at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, are already generating plenty of buzz. The All-Star rosters, announced on February 1, 2026, have sparked debates among fans, players, and analysts alike, with several high-profile stars left out in the cold despite eye-popping performances.

The Los Angeles Clippers, this year’s host team, find themselves in an unusual—and somewhat awkward—spot. For the first time in recent memory, neither of their marquee names, Kawhi Leonard nor James Harden, will be suiting up for the All-Star Game on their home court. Both players have been putting up stellar numbers. Leonard, enjoying a career resurgence, leads the Clippers with a personal best 27.7 points per game, ranking seventh in the NBA, and tops the league in both steals and free-throw percentage. Harden, meanwhile, sits 17th in scoring at 25.4 points per game, adds 8.1 assists, and drains 3.1 three-pointers per contest. Yet, the Clippers’ lackluster record seems to have overshadowed their individual brilliance in the eyes of the coaches who picked the reserves.

It’s a tough pill to swallow for Clippers fans, especially with the All-Star Game coming to their city. As ESPN’s Zach Kram noted, “Kawhi Leonard has been a top-10 player this season, and after a dreadful start, the LA Clippers have been one of the league's hottest teams since Christmas.” Yet, Leonard’s name was missing from the final All-Star list, a decision that’s left many scratching their heads. Harden, an 11-time All-Star, has now missed the cut in five of the last six seasons, despite maintaining elite production.

Across town, the Los Angeles Lakers are enjoying a different kind of celebration. LeBron James, now 41 years old, has extended his record streak with a 22nd consecutive All-Star selection. He’s averaging 21.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 7.4 assists over 30 games, defying Father Time and continuing to anchor the Lakers. Joining him is Luka Doncic, giving the Lakers a pair of All-Stars to represent the city. James’s selection wasn’t without its own controversy, though. As ESPN’s Kevin Pelton put it, “It sounds silly to be surprised about a player who had made the past 21 All-Star games making it 22 in a row. But James missed the first month, his counting stats are down in his age-41 season and there's fierce competition in the Western Conference player pool.” Still, the coaches ultimately sided with the living legend.

The All-Star Game’s format overhaul is another major storyline. Gone is the traditional East vs. West matchup. In its place: three teams—two composed of American players, one of international stars—battling it out in a round-robin tournament of 12-minute games. The top two squads will then face off in a championship showdown. The league has set roster minimums to ensure diversity: at least 16 American players and eight internationals must be selected, with Commissioner Adam Silver having the authority to add more if necessary. The selection process itself, however, remained unchanged: fans, players, and media voted for starters, while coaches filled out the benches.

The Western Conference’s reserve list is a blend of established icons and emerging talent. Alongside LeBron James are Anthony Edwards, Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Jamal Murray, Chet Holmgren, and Deni Avdija. The East counters with Donovan Mitchell, Karl-Anthony Towns, Pascal Siakam, Norman Powell, Scottie Barnes, Jalen Duren, and Jalen Johnson. Notably, Towns and Powell are American-born but have represented other countries internationally, a wrinkle that adds intrigue to the new format.

But for every star who made the cut, there’s another who just missed out—sometimes in agonizing fashion. Paolo Banchero of the Orlando Magic is in the NBA’s top 25 for both points and rebounds per game this season, while also averaging 4.9 assists. Despite these numbers, Banchero was left off the All-Star roster for the second straight year, possibly due to Orlando’s 25-22 record and his early-season injury. His teammate, Desmond Bane, has been a strong addition for the Magic, putting up 19.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per contest, but he too was snubbed, likely a victim of the team’s middling performance.

Joel Embiid, the dominant Philadelphia 76ers center, is averaging 26.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 3.9 assists, but injuries have limited him to just 28 games this season. For the second year in a row, that was enough to keep the seven-time All-Star out of the midseason classic. Michael Porter Jr., enjoying a breakout year with the Brooklyn Nets—career highs of 25.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.2 assists—was similarly overlooked, perhaps due to the Nets’ third-worst record in the East.

Brandon Ingram of the Toronto Raptors, averaging a team-leading 21.9 points along with 5.9 rebounds and 3.7 assists, also finds himself on the outside looking in. The Raptors’ 29-21 record earned them one All-Star—Scottie Barnes—but not two, as some had hoped. Lauri Markkanen of the Utah Jazz, ninth in the NBA in scoring at 27.4 points per game, has now missed All-Star selection for three consecutive seasons.

The international flavor of this year’s event is undeniable. The All-Star starters, announced back on January 19, include Luka Doncic, Stephen Curry, Nikola Jokic, Victor Wembanyama, and reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for the West, and Jalen Brunson, Cade Cunningham, Jaylen Brown, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Tyrese Maxey for the East. The international team will boast names like Doncic, Jokic, Wembanyama, Gilgeous-Alexander, Jamal Murray, Pascal Siakam, and Deni Avdija. Sadly, Antetokounmpo is likely to miss the festivities after sustaining a calf injury last weekend.

With the new format, speculation abounds about how the international squad will fare. ESPN’s Pelton predicts, “I could see the international team, in particular, taking things seriously and forcing their American opponents to up their game.” There’s also a bold prediction that Victor Wembanyama could steal the show and snag MVP honors—something big men rarely do in the All-Star setting.

As the NBA All-Star Weekend approaches, the anticipation is palpable. The new format, the snubs, the legends, and the rising stars all combine to make this one of the most intriguing All-Star Games in recent memory. Will the international team rise to the challenge? Can LeBron add another chapter to his storied career? And will the snubbed stars use this as fuel for the season’s second half? One thing’s for sure: all eyes will be on Inglewood when the NBA’s brightest gather at the Intuit Dome on February 15.