The 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend is finally here, and basketball fans in Los Angeles are in for a huge treat, as the festivities are held in the Intuit Dome, home of the LA Clippers. Kicking off the event were the Creator Cup, Celebrity Game, and the Rising Stars Game on Friday, followed by the Three-Point Contest, Shooting Stars, and Slam Dunk Contest on Saturday night.
The main event is the All-Star Game on Sunday, where the best players in the world will convene on one court. The league office has changed its format from the usual East vs. West matchup to a three-team (USA Stars, USA Stripes, and Team World) round-robin setup.
We have six new NBA All-Stars this year, and they deserve their spots. Jamal Murray, Deni Avdija, Norman Powell, Jalen Duren, Cade Cunningham, and Chet Holmgren are expected to show out this weekend. However, not everyone can join the festivities, as three former league MVPs will miss out due to fitness concerns.
Today, SBOTOP lists the notable absentees for the All-Star Game and explains the reasons behind it.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks
The Bucks won’t be represented in the All-Star Game, as their only hope, Giannis Antetokounmpo, is not yet 100-per cent fit due to a serious calf injury. This is the second consecutive season he has missed the showpiece event due to the same injury. Last season, Trae Young replaced him, and Antetokounmpo eventually returned to the court for Milwaukee after the break.
Antetokounmpo has been limited to 30 games so far this season. But when he’s on the court, he’s undoubtedly played at an MVP level, averaging 28.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 5.6 assists on 64.5-per cent shooting from the field. Without him, the Bucks are 7-15. He’s also a one-time All-Star Game MVP, having won the honour in 2021.
Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox will replace Antetokounmpo, marking his second career All-Star selection. He will join USA Stripes, while Norman Powell, due to his Jamaican roots, will move to Team World. The 28-year-old guard is one of the reasons San Antonio defied the NBA 2026 odds to become the second seed in the Western Conference, averaging 19.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and 1.3 steals on 48.4-per cent shooting from the field across 45 regular season games.
Stephen Curry, Warriors
Like Antetokounmpo, Stephen Curry will also miss the All-Star Game for a second time due to injuries. In 2023, the Warriors guard sustained a leg injury and ultimately missed a month’s worth of action before returning in March to help his team reach the Western Conference semi-finals. The four-time NBA champion was one of the top vote-getters this season, but he’ll sit this one out due to a nagging knee injury, and he hasn’t played since late January.
Before his knee flared up, Curry was having another strong campaign, averaging 27.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.1 steals on 47/39/93 shooting splits across 39 regular season appearances. He is a two-time All-Star MVP, having earned the honours in 2022 and 2025.
According to the NBA 2026 news, commissioner Adam Silver chose Brandon Ingram as Curry’s replacement on USA Stripes. This will be Ingram’s second All-Star selection, and he’s averaging 21.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 3.7 assists on 47.4-per cent shooting from the field across 53 regular season appearances. His Raptors co-star, Scottie Barnes, will play for the USA Stars. On the other hand, their head coach, Darko Rajakovic, is on Team World.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will also miss the All-Star Game, as the Thunder guard was diagnosed with an abdominal strain and has been out for several games. Unlike Antetokounmpo and Curry, this will be the first time Gilgeous-Alexander sits out of the festivities. Before his current injury, he’d missed just two regular season games.
The reigning league and Finals MVP is averaging 31.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 6.4 assists, and 1.3 steals on 55/39/89 shooting splits across 49 regular season games, putting him in a great position to add another league MVP to his growing trophy case. With him leading the way, the Thunder are largely expected to win their second consecutive Larry O’Brien trophy.
After Gilgeous-Alexander was ruled out for the All-Star Game, the NBA named Alperen Sengun as his replacement in Team World, marking his second appearance. The Rockets center averages 20.7 points, 9.4 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and 1.3 steals on 49.7-per cent shooting from the field across 46 regular season games. Sengun is not the only Rockets player to compete this weekend, as Kevin Durant is part of USA Stripes.
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