Every NBA All-Star candidate in 2025, and the 24 players who should actually make team

Here’s a big list of deserving NBA All-Star candidates, plus our picks for the players who should make the team.

It feels like the NBA is stocked with more elite talent than ever before. That’s going to lead to a lot of hard feelings as it relates to the 2025 NBA All-Star Game.

There are only 12 spots on the All-Star roster in the Eastern and Western Conference. Both the starters and the bench need to consist of two backcourt players and three front court players, with two Wild Card spots rounding out the rosters in each conference.

The 2025 NBA All-Star starters will be announced on Thursday, Jan. 23, with fan voting making up 50 percent of the final tally, and player and media votes making up the other 25 percent. The All-Star reserves will be announced on Jan. 30, and will be picked by head coaches (though coaches can’t vote for their own players). The 2025 NBA All-Star Game takes place on Feb. 16, complete with a bizarre new format that is sure to confuse everyone.

There are always more All-Star caliber players than there are spots on the All-Star team. This year, the choice feels harder than ever. With All-Star time approaching, here’s the big list of deserving All-Star caliber players in each conference with their positional designations as decided by the league (FC = front court, BC = backcourt). After the big list, we’ll give our early picks for who should actually make the team.

Western Conference

• Nikola Jokic, FC, Denver Nuggets
• Anthony Edwards, BC, Minnesota Timberwolves:
• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, BC, Oklahoma City Thunder
• Jalen Williams, FC, Oklahoma City Thunder
• Stephen Curry, BC, Golden State Warriors
• Norman Powell, BC, Los Angeles Clippers
• James Harden, BC, Los Angeles Clippers
• LeBron James, FC, Los Angeles Lakers
• Anthony Davis, FC, Los Angeles Lakers
• Kevin Durant, FC, Phoenix Suns
• Devin Booker, BC, Phoenix Suns
• De’Aaron Fox, BC, Sacramento Kings
• Domantas Sabonis, FC, Sacramento Kings
• Luka Doncic, BC, Dallas Mavericks
• Kyrie Irving, BC, Dallas Mavericks
• Alperen Şengün, FC, Houston Rockets
• Ja Morant, BC, Memphis Grizzlies
• Jaren Jackson Jr., FC, Memphis Grizzlies
• Victor Wembanyama, FC, San Antonio Spurs

That’s 19 players for 12 spots in the West. A few of these players will be eliminated for lack of games played. For example, Luka Doncic hasn’t played since Christmas because of an ankle injury, and has only played 22 games all season. He’s unlikely to make the All-Star Game if he doesn’t return soon. Ja Morant (23 games played and counting) could face the same issue.

Eastern Conference

• Jayson Tatum, FC, Boston Celtics
• Jaylen Brown, FC, Boston Celtics
• Derrick White, BC, Boston Celtics
• Cameron Johnson, FC, Brooklyn Nets
• Jalen Brunson, BC, New York Knicks
• Karl-Anthony Towns, FC, New York Knicks
• Tyrese Maxey, BC, Philadelphia 76ers
• Scottie Barnes, FC, Toronto Raptors
• Zach LaVine, BC, Chicago Bulls
• Nikola Vucevic, FC, Chicago Bulls
• Donovan Mitchell, BC, Cleveland Cavaliers
• Darius Garland, BC, Cleveland Cavaliers
• Jarrett Allen, FC, Cleveland Cavaliers
• Evan Mobley, FC, Cleveland Cavaliers
• Cade Cunningham, BC, Detroit Pistons
• Tyrese Haliburton, BC, Indiana Pacers
• Giannis Antetokounmpo, FC, Milwaukee Bucks
• Damian Lillard, BC, Milwaukee Bucks
• Trae Young, BC, Atlanta Hawks
• Jalen Johnson, FC, Atlanta Hawks
• LaMelo Ball, BC, Charlotte Hornets
• Tyler Herro, BC, Miami Heat
• Franz Wagner, FC, Orlando Magic

That’s 23 players for 12 spots in the Eastern Conference. Again, games played is going thin out much of the list. LaMelo Ball — the leading vote-getter among East guards! — better stay healthy until the All-Star Game, because he’s only played 25 games thus far. Franz Wagner was playing at an All-NBA level before his torn right oblique. He’s reportedly close to returning for the Magic, but at 25 games played, he’s going to be a borderline All-Star call unless he gets back on the floor immediately. Some of these players won’t make the team just because their team isn’t good enough. Brooklyn Nets forward Cameron Johnson falls into that category, but it’s possible he could get moved before the All-Star Game by the Feb. 6 trade deadline.

2025 NBA All-Star Game picks for final roster

Alright, let’s get into it. Remember: Three front court players and two backcourt in each conference for both the starters and reserves, and two wild card picks for each conference on the bench.

Western Conference starters

FC Nikola Jokic

FC Victor Wembanyama

FC Anthony Davis

BC Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

BC Stephen Curry

Western Conference reserves

FC Jaren Jackson Jr.

FC LeBron James

FC Kevin Durant

BC Anthony Edwards

BC Kyrie Irving

WC Alperen Şengün

WC Jalen Williams

Doncic doesn’t make because he hasn’t played enough games. Morant has also missed a ton of games this year, and the Grizzlies haven’t needed him to be as spectacular as he usually is, in part because of the rise of Jaren Jackson Jr. I was torn between Jackson and Davis for the final front court starting spot in the West. Jackson is slightly ahead of Davis in EPM, but his counting stats suffer a bit because Memphis is playing him under 30 minutes per game. Jackson and Davis are both in the top-10 of points per 100 possessions. It’s too close to call, but I still think AD is a slightly better player. The hardest cut here is Domantas Sabonis. I feel like the Rockets deserve an All-Star this year as they sit in second in the West, and Thunder are so far out in front that they deserve two All-Stars. Sabonis is my next man up.

These are just my picks. When the All-Star roster is announced, you can bet LeBron James and Kevin Durant will be in the starting lineup. I have no issue with that because both are playing at All-Star level this year, but Wembanyama and Davis (and Jackson) are having better seasons. Salute the legends, though.

Eastern Conference starters

FC Giannis Antetokounmpo

FC Karl-Anthony Towns

FC Jayson Tatum

BC Donovan Mitchell

BC Jalen Brunson

Eastern Conference reserves

FC Evan Mobley

FC Jaylen Brown

FC Franz Wagner

BC Darius Garland

BC Cade Cunningham

WC LaMelo Ball

WC Trae Young

The toughest cut here is Jarrett Allen. The Cavs are playing at a 71-win pace, and have a legitimate case for four All-Stars. Allen could get in with the final front court spot in the East, but I gave that nod to Wagner with the report that he’s set to return once his conditioning gets up. Wagner has only played 25 games, but he’s been so good that if he comes back next week and resumes his elite level of play, I think he has to be an All-Star for the surging Magic.

Ball is likely to be an All-Star because he’s crushing fan voting, but his case is extremely shaky with the Hornets only having eight wins. I’d give heavy consideration to Allen, Zach LaVine, and Tyler Herro over Ball for the final spot. Get back to me in a week or two and I might change my mind.