Over the previous 5 years, the NBA has averaged between 5 and 6 new All-Stars per 12 months, with the 2025 whole of six (Cade Cunningham, Evan Mobley, Alperen Sengun, Victor Wembanyama and Jalen Williams) on the larger finish of that vary.
Though the 2025-26 NBA season is younger, it is not too early to start fascinated with which gamers have an opportunity to hitch that group by making their All-Star debuts.
Two veterans specifically stand out. Jamal Murray has averaged extra factors in his playoff profession (23.8) than Wilt Chamberlain (22.5), James Harden (22.5), Dwyane Wade (22.3) and Kawhi Leonard (21.6), but he has by no means been an All-Star. In the meantime, Austin Reaves of the Los Angeles Lakers put up historic numbers because the crew’s go-to man early within the season, together with a 51-point sport that raised our understanding of his ceiling as a participant and a buzzer-beater final week towards the Minnesota Timberwolves.
This season’s first-time All-Stars will get there in a barely totally different vogue now that the NBA has reformatted its midseason showcase but once more, pitting a crew of worldwide stars towards two groups of American gamers.
Keeping track of which pool they’re going to be a part of, let’s check out 10 candidates to make their All-Star debut in 2026.
Over the course of his first season in Portland, Avdija emerged because the Blazers’ finest participant, averaging 23.3 factors, 9.7 rebounds and 5.2 assists after the All-Star break with 50-40 capturing splits. He has picked up the place he left off, placing up 22.7 PPG and 4.2 APG as Portland has began 4-2. If the Blazers can keep within the playoff combine, Avdija figures to be their most outstanding All-Star candidate.
No rookie has made the All-Star Recreation since Blake Griffin in 2010-11, and that got here after a redshirt season resulting from damage. Yao Ming was voted an All-Star starter as a rookie in 2002-03, however earlier than that, we’ve to return to Tim Duncan in 1997-98 for a first-year participant chosen by coaches. Edgecombe, taken third general, has surpassed No. 1 choose Cooper Flagg because the more than likely rookie to finish that drought.
Edgecombe has reenergized the Sixers throughout their 5-1 begin, averaging 21.2 factors, 5.6 rebounds and 5.4 assists whereas capturing 43.8% on 3s. It is unlikely Edgecombe retains that up, but when he does, he is a legit All-Star contender. Edgecombe was born within the Bahamas and performed for its nationwide crew within the 2024 Olympic qualifying match, presumably placing him within the worldwide pool if he makes it this season to L.A.
Giddey, an Australian worldwide, is averaging profession highs of twenty-two factors, 8.8 rebounds and eight.0 assists on the controls for the 5-1 Bulls. Within the absence of injured backcourtmate Coby White, Giddey has taken on extra offensive accountability, and he is capturing a career-high 45.5% on 3s by way of six video games. Though there are causes to be skeptical of Chicago’s begin, if the Bulls are above .500, their possibilities of being rewarded with an All-Star enhance dramatically.
A hip fracture that restricted Holmgren to 32 video games final season scuttled any possibilities of an All-Star look, however he is benefiting from Jalen Williams’ absence and the Thunder’s time beyond regulation video games to spice up his averages to 23.0 PPG and 10.3 RPG within the early going. Holmgren is capturing 42% on 3s, offsetting a comparatively gradual begin as a shot blocker (1.3 per sport, down almost one an evening from his first two seasons). Holmgren has now missed Oklahoma Metropolis’s final three video games resulting from again soreness, however Thunder coach Mark Daigneault stated the crew was merely “being conservative” along with his return.
With the Hawks including Kristaps Porzingis, Johnson’s versatility hasn’t been fairly as vital as final season, when he was considered one of simply 4 gamers within the league whose averages rounded as much as at the very least 10 rebounds and 5 blocks per sport. Two of the opposite three (Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic) are multi-time MVPs, whereas the fourth participant was a three-time All-Star, Domantas Sabonis. On the identical time, Johnson is averaging a career-high 20.8 factors on 58% capturing. Johnson’s help fee ought to go up with Trae Younger sidelined by an MCL sprain. He handed out a season-high eight (with 22 factors and 13 boards) in Friday’s win over Indiana.
Not but age 30, Murray is already one of the crucial achieved gamers ever with out an All-Star look, an inventory he may play his approach off this season. Accidents have been a consider stopping Murray from making an All-Star roster, however he is additionally by no means averaged as many factors in an everyday season (topping out at 21.4 in 2024-25) as in his playoff profession. Murray is surpassing that within the early going, averaging 26.0 factors on 39.4% 3-point capturing. Though he is in an more and more crowded worldwide pool, I would give Murray the sting over teammate Aaron Gordon to be Jokic’s first teammate ever chosen as an All-Star.
An outlier on this record by way of age, Powell is coming off averaging a career-high 21.8 PPG in a breakthrough marketing campaign for the LA Clippers. Dealt to Miami this offseason, Powell has emerged because the Warmth’s main scorer within the absence of injured Tyler Herro. His 24.0 PPG would surpass that earlier profession mark, whereas Miami has began the season by blowing out opponents. One potential complication: Powell has missed the final three video games with a groin damage.
No participant has performed extra to enhance their All-Star possibilities within the season’s first two weeks than Reaves, who has taken full benefit of the chance created by accidents to first LeBron James after which Luka Doncic. Reaves is averaging a 32.0 PPG whereas main the NBA in free throws made (10.2 per sport). Reaves merited All-Star consideration a 12 months in the past, when he averaged a career-high 20.2 PPG, and could be a lock if he retains up something like his present tempo because the Lakers get wholesome.
After scoring 51 factors within the first sport Doncic missed at Sacramento, coming inside an help of a triple-double, Reaves adopted that up with 41 factors in a loss to Portland the place the Lakers have been outscored by 14 throughout his 9 minutes on the bench. Reaves then made the game-winner to cap a 28-point, 16-assist outing at Minnesota earlier than Doncic returned on Friday.
Coming into the season, Thompson would have been my prime choose for first-time All-Stars. He averaged 16.0 factors, 9.2 rebounds and 4.9 assists as a starter final season whereas incomes All-Defensive first crew honors. A season-long ACL tear for place to begin guard Fred VanVleet figured to present Thompson extra offensive accountability this season. To this point, he hasn’t taken benefit, scoring lower than he did as a starter in 2024-25. It is nonetheless a small pattern, and with Thompson on the controls for a West contender, I would give him a great likelihood of working into the All-Star dialogue.
Solely an premature indirect tear final December prevented Wagner from making a robust All-Star push in his fourth season. He was averaging 24.4 factors and 5.7 assists on the time for a Magic crew that was 16-9 with out injured main scorer Paolo Banchero. By the point Wagner returned a month and a half later, coaches have been nearly to vote for reserves. Wagner hasn’t been the difficulty for Orlando, making an unsustainable 43.3% of his 3s as a part of career-best effectivity. However he most likely wants the Magic to get again above .500 to have an opportunity at All-Star.