Category: Basketball

In the year the All-Star Game switches to a USA vs. World three-team format (and returns to NBC while debuting on Peacock), two international players lead the first round of fan voting for the NBA All-Star Game.

Luka Dončić received the most votes in the West and Giannis Antetokounmpo in the East, as the NBA released the first All-Star Game fan-vote results. Here would be the starters for each conference at this point:

Western Conference

Luka Dončić, Lakers (1,249,518 votes)
Nikola Jokić, Nuggets (1,128,962)
Stephen Curry, Warriors (1,031,455)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder (878,621)
Victor Wembanyama, Spurs (769,362)

Eastern Conference

Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks (1,192,296 notes)
Tyrese Maxey , 76ers (1,072,449)
Jalen Brunson, Knicks (1,040,601)
Cade Cunningham, Pistons (1,000,171)
Donovan Mitchell Cavaliers (851,155)

Five of the 10 starters voted in by fans are international players.

While the All-Star Game format has changed (more on that below), fan voting has largely remained the same. Fans vote for five starters — with no regard to position — and those votes (combined with player and media votes) will pick the starters for the game Feb. 15 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif., the home of the LA Clippers.

After the 10 starters are named, a vote of the coaches selects the seven reserves from each conference.

That sets the 24 All-Star players headed to Southern California.

All-Star Game format

The timing could not be better for the NBA All-Star Game to return to NBC and debut on Peacock — the 2026 game lands right in the middle of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. That set up perfectly for the first-of-its-kind All-Star Game pitting the best of the USA vs. the NBA's deep international talent pool.

The 24 All-Star players will be divided into three teams — two USA teams and one world team — that will compete in a round-robin tournament of four 12-minute games. Each of the three teams will have a minimum of eight players (if the USA or World teams are short on players, the league office will select one or more players to reach the required number).

At the end of the round-robin, the two top teams will play a championship game (the fourth 12-minute game of the day) for the title.

How to Watch the NBA on NBC and Peacock

Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones. Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.

The Denver Nuggets fanbase and NBA fans across the globe held their collective breath with three seconds left in the first half of the Nuggets' game against the Miami Heat on Monday night when three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic went down in a heap, grabbing his left knee.

On the final defensive possession of the half, Jokic was alone under the basket when Miami’s Jaime Jaquez Jr. drove to the hoop. Jokic stepped up to help teammate Spencer Jones, who was backpedaling. Jones didn't see Jokic and stepped on his left foot, which caused the center’s knee to hyperextend and sent him to the floor, grabbing at his left knee. Trainers came over to assist Jokic, who was able to get up on his own, but was noticeably hobbling to the locker room and grabbing onto objects to help keep him upright.

After the halftime break, the team listed him as questionable to return.

At the time of his injury, Jokic had 21 points, eight assists, and five rebounds in 19 minutes. The fact that the Nuggets didn't immediately rule him out for the game is a mild positive sign. While the injury looked severe and had many people worried about a potential ACL tear, the hyperextension could also lead to a sprain or a bone bruise, so we'll have to await more news to know how long the Nuggets will be without their star.

Missing Jokic for any amount of time would be a brutal blow for a Denver team that is already without three other starters: Christian Braun (left ankle sprain), Aaron Gordon (right hamstring strain), and Cam Johnson (right knee injury). Jokic came into the game as the odds-on favorite to win another MVP, averaging 29.9 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 11.1 assists per game this season.

We'll continue to update this story as more information becomes available.