Overview
- Wembanyama was named a Feb. 15 All-Star starter, a first for a French player, following the NBA's official announcement of starters.
- Hours later, he posted 33 points and 10 rebounds in 26 minutes in San Antonio’s 123–110 victory over Utah, hitting 7 of 12 from three.
- Western starters are Wembanyama, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic and Stephen Curry; Eastern starters are Cade Cunningham, Jaylen Brown, Jalen Brunson, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Tyrese Maxey.
- This year’s format introduces three eight-man teams in a U.S. vs World mini-tournament with 12-minute games, rendering starter and reserve labels largely honorary.
- Starters were chosen by a 50% fan, 25% player and 25% media vote, coaches will add 14 more All-Stars, and LeBron James was not among the initial starters for the first time since 2005.