All-Star Starters Announced: Data Behind the 2025 West and East Rosters
NEW YORK — The NBA has officially released the starter pools for the 2025 All-Star Game in San Francisco, and the numbers confirm a total guard takeover in the Western Conference. While the fan vote kept legacy names in the hunt, the player and media ballots shifted the weight toward hyper-efficient high-usage playmakers. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luka Doncic have effectively locked down the backcourt, leaving Steph Curry on the outside of the starting five for the first time in a healthy season.
Another game, another Kawhi Leonard masterclass!
🖐️ 41 PTS
🖐️ 8 REB
🖐️ 4 STL
🖐️ 5 3PM
🖐️ LAC W4th game this season with 40+ PTS… it’s the most times he’s done so in any season of his career! pic.twitter.com/iumX3Q0J9y
— NBA (@NBA) February 8, 2026
The Weighted Score Breakdown
In the West, the battle for the final frontcourt spot came down to a razor-thin margin between Victor Wembanyama and Anthony Davis. Wembanyama’s +12.4 on-off split and league-leading block rate swayed the media vote, earning him a starting nod in just his second season. Nikola Jokic and LeBron James—securing a record-breaking 21st selection—round out a frontcourt that boasts an average True Shooting percentage of 64.2%.
The Eastern Conference results reflect a shift toward the “New York vs. Indiana” rivalry. Jalen Brunson and Tyrese Haliburton claimed the backcourt spots, edging out Donovan Mitchell. The tactical edge here is clear: both guards rank in the top 95th percentile for assist-to-turnover ratio. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jayson Tatum, and Joel Embiid (contingent on his 65-game eligibility status) fill a frontcourt that leads the league in points in the paint per 100 possessions.
- West Starters: Luka Doncic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, LeBron James, Nikola Jokic, Victor Wembanyama.
- East Starters: Jalen Brunson, Tyrese Haliburton, Jayson Tatum, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid.
- Key Snub: Anthony Edwards finished 3rd in the player vote but 5th in fan voting, missing the cut by a 1.5 weighted margin.
Inside the Huddle
“The voting metrics this year show that players are valuing defensive versatility just as much as scoring volume. You see that with Wembanyama getting the nod over traditional double-double machines. The league is getting longer, faster, and much harder to scout.” — NBA Lead Analytics Consultant
The Bottom Line & What’s Next
The focus now shifts to the reserves, where Western Conference coaches face a nightmare scenario. With only seven spots left, one of Steph Curry, Anthony Edwards, or Kevin Durant will likely be pushed to a wildcard slot or miss the cut entirely if the injury bug hits. From a salary cap perspective, these selections are massive for the “Supermax” eligibility of the younger stars. If SGA finishes the season with an All-NBA nod to match this All-Star start, he stays on track for a historic $350 million extension. Watch for the reserve announcements next Thursday to see if the coaches reward winning over raw counting stats.
