The Eastern Conference was already full of stars, but the 2026 offseason made the All-Star race completely ridiculous. LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard moved over from the West, while Anthony Davis is also finally set to play in the East after joining the Wizards last season but never making his debut.
They’re joining a group that already included Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Jalen Brunson, Tyrese Maxey, Cade Cunningham, Donovan Mitchell, Joel Embiid, Trae Young, and several other established stars.
Now, there’s a much bigger problem than last year. There were still only 12 original All-Star selections from each conference last season, five starters and seven reserves, before injury replacements and the USA vs. World roster split. Now, there are at least 21 players in the East with a fair argument to get one of those 12 positions. That means ten very good players could stay home even before considering breakouts or unexpected stars.
The 2026 East starters were Giannis, Brown, Brunson, Cunningham, and Maxey. All five are still in the conference, but their competition became way harder. Some teams could have three or four candidates, meaning teammates are going to steal touches, votes, and recognition from each other.
Here are the 21 biggest candidates and how the All-Star battle could look by the time February arrives.
The Sizers’ Four Stars Are Fighting For The Same Spots
LeBron James, Joel Embiid, Jaylen Brown, and Tyrese Maxey give the 76ers four players with superstar-level names and production. That’s completely ridiculous, but it also creates the most difficult All-Star situation in the conference.
Maxey and Brown should enter the season with the strongest statistical cases. Tyrese produced 28.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 6.6 assists last season, while Jaylen reached career highs with 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists. They finished as the two highest-scoring players in the Eastern Conference and were both 2026 All-Stars.
Embiid remains the best player of the group when healthy. He still delivered 26.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 3.9 assists, but he played only 38 games. That’s the entire argument with Embiid now. His numbers aren’t the issue. He just needs to be on the floor enough before selections are made.
LeBron comes in as the fourth option after putting up 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 7.2 assists during his final Lakers season. Those are still All-Star numbers, especially for a player who’ll turn 42, and fan voting will obviously help him. Still, four All-Stars from one team is almost impossible unless the 76ers completely dominate the conference. Somebody will probably get sacrificed, and LeBron’s lower scoring volume could make him the most vulnerable.
The Cavs Big Three Could Cancel Each Other Out
The Cavaliers’ guard pairing creates another complicated situation. Donovan Mitchell is coming off 27.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.7 assists, making him the safest candidate on the roster. He’s still the first scorer, the player who closes games, and the biggest reason Cleveland can stay close to the top of the conference.
James Harden also has a strong case after recording 23.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 8.0 assists last season. His scoring efficiency and playoff reputation can be debated all day, but a guard producing over 20 points and eight assists on a good team normally gets serious All-Star attention. The problem is that Harden will enter the season at 37 years old, and his burden might get a lot thinner during the first stage of the season.
Evan Mobley is the third candidate and probably the one who needs the team record the most. He finished with 18.2 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 3.6 assists while remaining one of the best defensive big men in basketball. Those numbers aren’t automatic, but if the Cavs have a top-three record and Mobley is leading an elite defense, coaches could choose him over a higher-scoring player from a losing team.
Cleveland getting all three would be surprising. Mitchell feels close to a lock, Harden needs to be free of injuries, and Mobley probably gets in only with a monster defensive reputation or an injury opening.
The Knicks Could Send Three Players To The All-Star Game
The defending champions should also have three names inside the conversation. Jalen Brunson is the easiest one. He scored 26.0 points with 6.8 assists during the regular season, then won Finals MVP after leading the Knicks to the championship. Unless the wrist injury creates a bigger issue than expected, Brunson should be one of the first guards selected.
Karl-Anthony Towns also has an All-Star path. His 20.1 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 3.0 assists are good enough by themselves, and being the second offensive star on the reigning champions only helps. The East has more frontcourt competition now, but centers who average 20 and 12 on winning teams usually find a way in.
OG Anunoby is more of an impact candidate than a stats candidate. He posted 16.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.2 assists, then had several huge scoring games during the Knicks’ title run. His defense is All-Star level, but that award normally goes toward bigger offensive numbers. Anunoby might need New York to have the best record in the East and another major two-way season to grab a third Knicks position.
Brunson should be in. Towns has a good chance. OG feels like one of the best players who could still get squeezed out.
Giannis Is A Lock, But Bam Could Pay The Price
Giannis Antetokounmpo is probably the safest name on this entire list. He gave the Bucks 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 5.4 assists last season while remaining one of the most efficient interior scorers in the league. Moving to the Heat might lower his usage a little, but Giannis would need a major injury or collapse to miss the team.
Bam Adebayo’s case is getting complicated now. Bam had one of his strongest statistical seasons with 20.1 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 3.2 assists, but now he’s sharing the frontcourt with Giannis. The Heat could become one of the best defensive teams in basketball, yet Giannis will receive most of the national attention and could also take rebounds and offensive possessions away from Bam.
Miami probably needs a top-two record for both players to make it. Giannis is automatic. Bam is fighting against Embiid, Mobley, Towns, Tatum, Brown, Kawhi, LeBron, and Anthony Davis for frontcourt and wildcard places. That’s brutal.
Cade Is Detroit’s Lock For The All-Star Game
Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren both made the 2026 All-Star Game, so neither player is some random addition to the list. Cade finished the season with 23.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 9.9 assists, while Duren broke out with 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds on 65.0% from the field.
Cunningham should be automatic if the Pistons remain near the top of the East. He controls the offense, produces almost ten assists per game, and has already built a strong reputation with coaches and voters. His scoring could also rise again if he stays healthy for more than 63 games.
Duren has a harder battle because the frontcourt is loaded. Still, a 20-point, 10-rebound center on a contender is difficult to ignore. He also made an All-NBA team last season, although, in all honesty, injuries to several bigger frontcourt candidates clearly opened the door for both that honor and his first All-Star selection.
Availability Will Decide Everything For The Raptors
Kawhi Leonard had one of the best individual seasons of his career, producing 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.6 assists. If the Raptors keep thriving and Kawhi plays regularly, his All-Star case should be easy. A healthy Leonard is still one of the best two-way wings in the league.
Of course, “if he plays regularly” is doing a lot of work there. Kawhi is 35, Toronto will probably manage his minutes, and his injury history is never going away. He could look like an All-NBA player for 30 games and still miss out because other candidates simply played more.
Scottie Barnes is the safer availability option after posting 18.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 5.9 assists. Barnes was also selected for the 2026 All-Star Game, proving that coaches already respect his complete production. His main issue is that Kawhi’s arrival could reduce his scoring and control of the offense.
Haliburton Will Be Back To Claim One Spot For Indiana
Tyrese Haliburton is the biggest projection on the list because he missed the entire 2025-26 season after right Achilles surgery. His last healthy campaign ended at 18.6 points and 9.2 assists, and he has already returned to regular workouts. If Haliburton looks close to his old version and Indiana wins, he belongs in the guard group.
That’s still a huge “if.” Achilles injuries can affect burst, conditioning, shooting balance, and defensive movement. Haliburton might also start the season on a minutes restriction, giving him less time to build his All-Star argument.
Pascal Siakam carried the Pacers without him, putting up 24.0 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 3.8 assists, actually earning a spot last season. Siakam might have the safer case because he’s more likely to play every night and maintain his production. Haliburton has the bigger name as Indiana’s franchise guard, but Siakam could be the better player during the first half of the season.
Trae And Davis Need The Wizards To Start Winning
Trae Young and Anthony Davis give Washington the strangest star duo in the East. Young’s first Wizards season wasn’t his best, as he only played five games, but he remains one of the league’s most dangerous offensive guards.
Trae’s case will come down to winning. Guards like Mitchell, Brunson, Cunningham, Maxey, Haliburton, and Harden are all on expected playoff teams. Young can’t just produce numbers while Washington sits 12th or 13th. He probably needs the Wizards around the Play-In line, plus a scoring return closer to his normal 25-point level.
Anthony Davis is an even bigger health question. His defense and interior production are still All-Star level, but Washington has a crowded frontcourt with Alex Sarr also needing minutes. Davis could make it through reputation and elite two-way impact, or he could miss half the first three months and disappear from the race.
Both have the talent. The Wizards’ record and Davis’ health could kill both cases very quickly.
Tatum Is Boston’s Only Serious Candidate Now
Jayson Tatum doesn’t have Jaylen Brown beside him anymore, which should make his individual case even stronger. Tatum returned with 21.8 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 5.3 assists after his Achilles injury and now becomes the complete center of the Celtics’ offense again.
The only concern is how much Boston wants to push him after a serious injury. If Tatum plays 30 minutes per night and rests regularly, his scoring could stay lower than normal. Still, a 22-point, 10-rebound, five-assist forward with his reputation should be enough, especially if the Celtics remain competitive.
There’s obviously Paul George there in place of Brown now, but if we’re being serious, a 36-year-old wing who played 37 games last season and averaged 17.3 points is not making the All-Star game now.
Jalen Johnson Has The Hawks Completely To Himself
Jalen Johnson became an All-Star last season by delivering 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 7.9 assists. Those are ridiculous numbers for a 6-foot-8 forward, and the Hawks now belong completely to him after moving away from Trae Young.
Johnson can score, rebound, run the break, and create for teammates. The production is already there. His challenge is making sure Atlanta wins enough after all its roster changes.
A healthy Johnson could get even more touches, but his efficiency and turnovers will matter with more defensive attention. If the Hawks remain a playoff team and he stays near 22 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists, leaving him out would be very difficult.
Early Eastern Conference All-Star Prediction
This race will change with injuries, records, and unexpected breakouts, but these would be the 12 selections right now.
Backcourt: Donovan Mitchell, Cade Cunningham, Jalen Brunson, Tyrese Maxey, Tyrese Haliburton.
Frontcourt: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jayson Tatum, Joel Embiid, Jaylen Brown, Kawhi Leonard.
Wild cards: LeBron James, Trae Young.
Mitchell, Cunningham, Brunson, and Maxey have the safest mix of scoring, playmaking, reputation, and expected team success. Haliburton is the risky choice because of the Achilles recovery, but if he returns near his previous level, his passing and Indiana’s offense should put him back in.
At the frontcourt spots, Giannis is automatic. Tatum should have huge responsibility in Boston, while Embiid only needs enough games to prove his body can hold up. Brown’s 28.7-point season makes him almost impossible to exclude. Kawhi gets the final frontcourt place because his 27.9 points and elite two-way impact are stronger than the other options when he’s available.
For the wild cards, LeBron gets one spot through production, team success, and the voting power attached to his name. Trae takes the other because elite guard creation is still harder to find than another defensive frontcourt player, and Washington finally has enough talent to give him a better winning argument.
That leaves Bam Adebayo, Anthony Davis, Evan Mobley, Karl-Anthony Towns, Jalen Johnson, Scottie Barnes, Pascal Siakam, Jalen Duren, James Harden, and OG Anunoby outside the initial 12. That sounds pretty insane, because several of them would be comfortable All-Stars in a normal season.
Bam would be the first player in if Miami dominates. Towns has a great chance after helping the Knicks win the championship, while Harden could replace Haliburton if the Pacers guard starts slowly. Kawhi is also the most obvious selection to fall because of missed games, with Johnson, Mobley, or Davis waiting behind him.
The names will change by February, but the main point won’t. The East finally has too many stars and nowhere near enough All-Star spots.
