The 2026 NBA All-Star Game will begin on at 5 p.m. ET Feb. 15 at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. The 75th All-Star Game’s first-of-its-kind round-robin format consists of two USA All-Star teams and a World team made up of international stars that will compete in a total of four games.
Team World's original MVP-level starting lineup after the voting consisted of Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic, San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama, Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
However, Antetokounmpo will not be able to take part in the contest because of a right calf strain. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has also been ruled out due to an abdominal strain. The NBA has announced who will replace him on Team World.
Alperen Sengun Gets the Nod for the All-Star Game
On X, the official NBA Communications handle announced that Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun will replace Gilgeous-Alexander on Team World for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game.
This is the second consecutive year that Sengun has made the All-Star reserves. During the 2025-26 season, he has tallied 20.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 1.4 steals and 1 block per game for the Rockets in 44 games.
The center has shot 49.6% from the field, while shooting 29.8% from the 3-point line and 69.3% from the free-throw line. Sengun is 30th in points per game, 10th in rebounds per game and 16th in assists per game this season.
During Saturday’s 112-106 win against the Thunder, Sengun clinched his second triple-double of the season (17 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists) and the 10th triple-double of his career.
Sengun has helped the Rockets to a 32-19 record (fourth in the West). He and his Rockets have a two-day rest after which they play in their first of back-to-back home games against the Los Angeles Clippers at 8 p.m. ET Tuesday.