The People’s Lineup: Why the 2025 All-Star Starters Actually Feel Right
SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Put down the remote and stop arguing with your group chat for a second. The 2025 NBA All-Star starters are officially out, and for once, the voting didn’t just turn into a popularity contest for the same three guys we’ve been watching since 2012. We’ve got new blood in the East, a defensive monster starting in the West, and a hometown hero ready to burn down the Chase Center nets.
“Every single time I step on the floor, I become emotional.”
Joel Embiid (29 PTS in PHI’s W) on persevering through tough times and playing with joy again 🥹 pic.twitter.com/3WJEpqJC8I
— NBA (@NBA) January 28, 2026
New York’s Long Wait Is Finally Over
If you’re a Knicks fan, you’ve spent decades watching other teams’ stars take the spotlight. Not anymore. **Jalen Brunson** being named a starter isn’t just a win for the box score; it’s a moment of catharsis for every person who bleeds orange and blue. He is the first Knicks guard to start an All-Star game since the legendary Walt “Clyde” Frazier back in 1975. Think about that. We’ve seen entire eras of basketball come and go before a New York guard was considered the best of the best. Brunson earned this by carrying the Garden on his back, proving that heart and footwork beat raw height every single night.
And then there’s the West. The “snub” talk is already out of control because **Luka Doncic** isn’t in the starting five. But let’s be real: **Shai Gilgeous-Alexander** (SGA) has been the most consistent “cool customer” in the league. He didn’t just get the nod because he’s flashy; he got it because the Thunder are sitting at the top of the Western Conference while he locks up the other team’s best player. Seeing him pair up with **Stephen Curry** in Steph’s own house is going to be pure basketball theater.
- The East Core: Jalen Brunson and Tyrese Haliburton are the pass-first duo we’ve been begging for.
- LeBron’s 21st: We need to stop acting like this is normal. LeBron James starting his 21st All-Star game is a glitch in the matrix.
- The Big Men: Giannis, Embiid, and Jokic. The three-headed monster of the paint remains undefeated.
Inside the Huddle
“You see the names on that list and you see the future. I don’t care about the ‘snubs’—I care about the fact that we have guards who actually want to pass the ball again. This game in San Francisco is going to be a track meet, and I’m here for it.” — Section 108 Regular, Chase Center
The Bottom Line & What’s Next
The starters are locked in, but the real fireworks start next week when the coaches pick the reserves. Expect **Luka Doncic and Anthony Edwards** to be the loudest names on that list. But keep an eye on the standings. This All-Star break is coming right as the playoff race gets nasty. For teams like the Knicks and the Thunder, having “Starter” status next to their franchise players’ names gives them massive leverage as they look to add pieces at the trade deadline.
Watch for the “SGA vs. Curry” dynamic during the game. It’s a passing of the torch in real-time, right in front of the Golden State fans. The Western Conference is deep, but the East has the size. If Embiid and Giannis actually decide to play defense for five minutes, the West might be in for a long night. Grab your popcorn—San Francisco is about to become the center of the basketball universe.
