The 2026 All-Star teams are officially here. The trade deadline is fast approaching. Life is good, Enjoyers!

Today’s Lineup

🎉 Happy birthday Sean Elliott and Charlie Brown Jr.! 🎉

NBA Announces 2026 All-Star Reserves

The wait is finally over— the full 2026 All-Star teams are here! Let’s run down the West and East squads.

WEST:

• Reserves: Anthony Edwards (MIN), Jamal Murray (DEN), Chet Holmgren (OKC), Kevin Durant (HOU), Devin Booker (PHX), Deni Avdija (POR), LeBron James (LAL)

• Starters (previously announced): Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC), Steph Curry (GSW), Luka Doncic (LAL), Nikola Jokic (DEN), Victor Wembanyama (SAS)

EAST:

• Reserves: Donovan Mitchell (CLE), Jalen Johnson (ATL), Karl-Anthony Towns (NYK), Pascal Siakam (IND), Norman Powell (MIA), Scottie Barnes (TOR), Jalen Duren (DET)

• Starters (previously announced): Tyrese Maxey (PHI), Jalen Brunson (NYK), Cade Cunningham (DET), Jaylen Brown (BOS), Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL)

There’s a ton to talk about, so let’s break down five of the biggest storylines:

• Both conferences had three first-time All-Stars: Murray, Holmgren, and Avdija on the West side, and Johnson, Powell, and Duren on the East.

• LeBron was selected to the All-Star team for a 22nd consecutive season, extending his record for most total and simultaneous berths.

• Five teams were tied with two total All-Stars: the Nuggets, Lakers, Thunder, Knicks, and Pistons.

• Notable absences include LA’s Kawhi Leonard and James Harden, Houston’s Alperen Sengun and Dillon Brooks, Toronto’s Brandon Ingram, Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid, Brooklyn’s Michael Porter Jr., and Utah’s Lauri Markkanen. Any of those players could replace Giannis, who will sit out the ASG with a calf injury. That name will be determined by Adam Silver at a later date.

• This year’s All-Star game will feature a new USA vs. World format, with two teams of eight U.S.-born players facing off with one team of eight foreign-born players in a round-robin style tournament. The league would have had to add additional All-Stars if eight international players were not selected, but there are at least 10 with world ties in this year’s pool. The official rosters will be revealed this Tuesday, February 3 at 7 p.m. EST on NBC.

Let the games begin!

Elsewhere around the NBA:

• The Hornets are in the midst of a midseason Renaissance. Charlotte’s 111-106 win over San Antonio gave them their sixth straight win, with Brandon Miller scoring 26 PTS to lead the way. But the older numbers are even more impressive— over the last 16 games, the Hornets rank first in Net Rating, first in Offensive Rating, and third in Defensive Rating. They’re currently 1.5 games behind Atlanta for the 10-seed, and that gap may not last for long…

• Every basketball fan owes Doctor Jonathan Glashow a thank-you. That’s because he’s the man responsible for Joel Embiid’s latest knee surgery, a procedure that’s helped revive the former MVP’s career. Embiid dropped his first 40-bomb of the season on Saturday night in Philly’s 124-114 win over New Orleans, showing off his trademark mid-range jumper in a dominant showing. The W came just a few hours after news that Philly’s Paul George had been suspended 25 games for taking “improper medication” that violated the league’s anti-drug policy.

• Speaking of big men dropping 40, Jarrett Allen hit the milestone for the first time in his storied NBA career during Cleveland’s 130-111 win over Portland. The former All-Star was unstoppable from the jump, tallying 16 PTS and 5 REB in the first quarter en route to a ludicrous two-way stat line: 40 PTS, 16 REB, 4 BLK, 2 STL, zero turnovers.

• Detroit showed why they’re one of just five teams with multiple All-Stars in a 53-point demolition of Brooklyn. The Pistons shot 56% from the field and held the Nets to just 33 points in the second half, with Jalen Duren’s 21 PTS and 10 REB the highlight of the day. The 130-77 victory was the most lopsided win in Detroit franchise history.

• Last night’s Denver-OKC clash wasn’t quite a potential WCF preview given the absence of Nikola Jokic and Jalen Williams, but we still got some fireworks between two of the conference’s top teams. OKC led wire-to-wire thanks to the usual 34 PTS from SGA (plus a season-high 13 AST), but the reigning champs also got 27 PTS and seven threes from Cason Wallace. Denver, on the other hand, was led by the continually emerging Peyton Watson, who scored 29 PTS, hit five threes, and crammed all over the DPOY favorite.

Trade Season

The trade deadline isn’t until 3 p.m. on February 5, but some teams are getting a head start on their midseason deals. Let’s break down two recent swaps:

Cavs deal Hunter to Kings for Ellis, Schroder

• Cavs acquire: Keon Ellis, Dennis Schroder

• Kings acquire: De’Andre Hunter

• Bulls acquire: Dario Saric, two second-round picks (2027, 2029)

Why Cleveland said Yes: The Cavs are gearing up for a playoff run in a wide-open East, and bolstering their guard rotation is a major win. The 26-year-old Ellis, a tenacious defender and 42% three-point shooter, will pair nicely in certain lineups alongside Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland thanks to his ability to take on opposing ball-handlers. He and Schroder will also take pressure off Lonzo Ball, who has struggled at times since joining Cleveland in the offseason. The deal also saves the Cavs roughly $50 million in salary and luxury tax bills.

Why Sacramento said Yes: At 28, Hunter is in the midst of his prime and offers a solid combination of shooting and defensive upside. Though he may not fit into the Kings’ long-term rebuilding plans, they buy low on the former Virginia product during a season that’s seen him shoot a career-worst 30.8% from three. If Hunter regains his 2025 form — a year that saw him average 17 PPG and finish fourth in 6MOY voting — he could prove valuable in SacTown.

Blazers add to young core, deal for sharpshooter Krejci

• Trailblazers acquire: Vit Krejci

• Hawks acquire: Duop Reath, two second-round picks (2027, 2030)

Why Portland said Yes: The Blazers are the league’s worst three-point shooting team so far this season, converting on just 33.7% of their looks from beyond. Krejci is shooting 42.3% from three on over five attempts per game. No deal is ever quite that simple, but in this case, Portland gets a quick fix for an obvious need. Plus, Krejci is only 25 years old and is signed to a minimum deal through 2027-28.

Why Atlanta said Yes: Head coach Quinn Snyder has favored the newly acquired Corey Kispert over Krejci in recent weeks, opening the door for the Hawks to flip him for draft capital. The 2027 second-rounder is the Hawks’ own, which they originally sent to Boston in 2023. Only time will tell how those picks pay off.

Three in the Key

Signing Off

And we out! Thanks for spending a portion of your day with us. This week, make time to work on something you love. Whether it’s a piece of art, a new recipe, or any sort of passion project, time enjoyed is never wasted. See you soon!

Walker Carnathan