TheNational Basketball Association (NBA)All-Star Game is an annual exhibitionbasketball game. It is the main event of theNBA All-Star Weekend. Traditionally, the All-Star Game featured a conference-based format, featuring a team composed of all of the top ranked basketball players in theEastern Conference and another team of all-stars from theWestern Conference. From2018 to2023, the NBA employed a different format featuring two teams captained by the top leading vote-getter from each conference. For the2025 game, a tournament-based format would be used, featuring three teams composed of NBA All-Stars, and a fourth team represented by a mix of NBA rookies, sophomores andNBA G League standouts that won theRising Stars Challenge.[e] Following the selection of the all-star starters and reserves, the captains choose from a pool of all-stars to form their teams regardless of conference. Twelve players—fivestarters and sevenreserves—from each conference are chosen from what used to be a pool of 120 players—60 players from each conference with 24guards and 24 frontcourts (forwards and centers)—listed on the ballots by a panel of sport writers and broadcasters to all active players. The starters are chosen by a combination of fans, media, and current players. Fans may vote using a variety of online platforms, and account for 50% of the vote, with the media and current players each accounting for 25%.[1] The reserves are chosen by voting among thehead coaches of each team's particular conference. Coaches are not allowed to vote for their own players, and can select two guards, three front court players, and two players regardless of positions.[2] If a player is unable to participate due to injury, theNBA commissioner will select a replacement.[3] The league canceled the 1999 All-Star Game due to thelockout.[4]
The following is a list of players who have been selected for the NBA All-Star Game at least once in their career.[5] Note that the number indicates the player's number of selections—not the number of games played. For instance,Michael Jordan was named to the All-Star Game roster 14 times, but missed the 1986 game due to injury.[6] As of February 17, 2025, 459 players have been selected to an All-Star Game roster at least once. Of these, 315 of them have earned multiple selections to the game.
LeBron James holds the record for most All-Star Game selections (21), most consecutive selections (21), most games played (20), and most consecutive games played (20).Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is second in overall selections with 19.Kobe Bryant is second in consecutive selections with 17.Bob Cousy andJohn Havlicek are tied for second most consecutive games played, appearing in 13 straight All-Star Games.Tim Duncan also played in 13 straight All-Star Games if the lockout-cancelled 1999 game is excluded. Several players were named to All-Star Game rosters, but never actually played in the game due to injury.
At age 19, Kobe Bryant was the youngest All-Star selected when he made his All-Star Game debut in1998, as well as the only player under 20 years old to be selected. Three players have been named NBA All-Stars after turning 40 years old: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar,Dirk Nowitzki, and LeBron James. Abdul-Jabbar is the only player selected to multiple All-Star Games after turning 40, with two selections.Nathaniel Clifton in1957 was the oldest player to be selected to his first All-Star Game, at 34 years and 3 months old.Sam Cassell (2004) andAnthony Mason (2001) were the only other players aged 34 or older to be selected to their first All-Star Game.
There have been 45 rookies who were named NBA All-Stars. However, in thedraft lottery era (since1985), the number of rookies selected to All-Star rosters became even rarer, with only eight rookies selected since, and none with at least two rookies in a game. The1985 NBA All-Star Game was the most recent game to feature two rookies, with Michael Jordan andHakeem Olajuwon being selected.Blake Griffin in2011 is the most recent rookie to be named an All-Star.
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The number of times the player has been selected to play in the All-Star Game
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Denotes player who is still active as of the 2024–25 season
a Before the 1971–72 season, Lew Alcindor changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.[558] He missed the 1973 All-Star Game for personal reasons.[559]
b When Hakeem Olajuwon arrived in the United States, the University of Houston incorrectly spelled his first name "Akeem". Olajuwon used that spelling until March 9, 1991, when he announced that he would add an H.[560][561]
^ab"2009 NBA All-Star Game".basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC.Archived from the original on August 14, 2019. RetrievedJuly 4, 2008.
^ab"2016 NBA All-Star Game".basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC.Archived from the original on September 15, 2019. RetrievedFebruary 12, 2016.
^"2017 NBA All-Star Game".basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC.Archived from the original on September 15, 2019. RetrievedFebruary 16, 2017.
^abcd"2018 NBA All-Star Game".basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC.Archived from the original on October 21, 2019. RetrievedFebruary 18, 2018.