NBA All Star 2026: LeBron In, Embiid Snubbed

Starters were revealed Jan. 19 and the full All-Star rosters were announced Sunday ahead of NBC’s doubleheader, setting the stage for Feb. 15 at the Intuit Dome. The league debuts a USA vs World format with two U.S. teams and one international team in a round-robin of four 12-minute games, each squad carrying at least eight players. The top two advance and point differential is the tiebreaker. Selections sparked debate, with LeBron James’ pick for his 22nd All-Star game said to have "raised some eyebrows" and notable snubs including Joel Embiid, Kawhi Leonard, Derrick White, Michael Porter Jr., and others. Merlin sees fresh drama ahead. Short games and national lines should tighten competition and force players to care more than in past exhibitions. Dividing 24 stars into three squads will create tactical decisions, storyline fuel for snubbed players, and a real chance for international talent to steal the spotlight.