The NBA’s brightest stars are headed to San Francisco for All-Star Weekend, and only one team has the distinction of sending two starters: the New York Knicks.
Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns will take the floor alongside the game’s elite, an achievement that highlights just how far this Knicks team has come. The last time the franchise sent two starters to an All-Star Game? In 1975, when Walt Frazier and Earl Monroe suited up.
But does that mean the Knicks boast the best duo heading into All-Star Weekend?
With superstars from all corners of the league showcasing their talent, it’s time to rank the top 18 teams sending players to San Francisco.
18. LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS – JAMES HARDEN
At 35 years old, Harden is still orchestrating an offense with precision, proving that elite playmaking ages well — even if athleticism doesn’t.
But while LeBron James defies time, not every superstar can. Harden’s best days are behind him, and though his Clippers remain a threat in the Western Conference, he’s no longer the singular force that can carry a team to a title.
That said, his IQ, handles, and deep bag of tricks still make him one of the craftiest players in the game, and that’s why he’s in his 11th All-Star Game.
17. INDIANA PACERS – PASCAL SIAKAM
Tyrese Haliburton took a step back this season. Pascal Siakam didn’t.
His consistency has kept Indiana afloat in the East, ensuring that even when their star guard struggles, the Pacers remain a top-six team.
And for the first time in his career, Siakam is shooting over 40% from deep. The two-time All-Star’s ability to guard multiple positions and now stretch the floor makes him a valuable piece for an upstart Pacers team.
16. ATLANTA HAWKS – TRAE YOUNG*
Three straight seasons averaging 20+ points and 10+ assists? Impressive.
Career-worst 40.7% from the field and 4.8 turnovers per game? Not so much.
Young remains an offensive engine, but his inefficiency keeps him from rising higher. He landed in San Francisco as an injury replacement for Giannis Antetokounmpo, and frankly, fans were divided.
Many would have rather seen LaMelo Ball get the nod over Young, but All-Star politics rarely favor players on losing teams.
15. DALLAS MAVERICKS – KYRIE IRVING
The Dallas Mavericks parted ways with a future around Luka Doncic in favor of a championship window held open by Kyrie Irving.
Let that sink in.
While his reputation has seen ups and downs, Irving remains one of the most electrifying guards in the game. His scoring, creativity, and championship pedigree are part of why Dallas remains in the mix despite Dončić’s injuries.
At 32 years old, he’s showing no signs of slowing down. And when the game’s on the line? There are few players you’d trust more.
14. HOUSTON ROCKETS – ALPEREN ŞENGÜN
He’s 22 years old — and already a franchise cornerstone.
Şengün has emerged as one of the most skilled bigs in basketball, leading the Rockets to their best season since the Harden era. He plays like a mix of Nikola Jokić and Domantas Sabonis — crafty, unselfish, and sneaky dominant.
And his best years are still ahead of him.
13. MILWAUKEE BUCKS – DAMIAN LILLARD
Dame Time might be slowing down — but the clock hasn’t struck midnight just yet.
The wear and tear is visible, but Lillard is still a 40-point threat with range that warps defenses. His issue? He’s also the first player an opponent wants to see switched onto them in crunch time.
It’s why, despite his offensive brilliance, he doesn’t crack the top 10.
12. MIAMI HEAT – TYLER HERRO
With Jimmy Butler shipped off to Golden State, the spotlight belongs to Tyler Herro.
And so far, he’s thriving.
At 25 years old, Herro is averaging a career-best 24 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists, keeping Miami afloat in the Play-In race.
His ceiling? Higher than people realize.
11. PHOENIX SUNS – KEVIN DURANT
Kevin Durant is a hooper. He wants to play, score, and win.
But his career keeps getting disrupted by massive trades that gut his supporting cast. He’s the definition of a hired gun, and while his scoring has aged like fine wine, finding the right fit remains a challenge under today’s CBA.
10. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS – STEPHEN CURRY
Curry is having one of his lowest-scoring seasons — but that’s by design.
The Warriors are developing their young core, and Curry is playing the long game. That said, his influence is unmatched, and no one will come close to his impact from behind the arc for a long, long time.
9. LOS ANGELES LAKERS – LEBRON JAMES
This might be LeBron’s farewell tour, but does it feel like it?
At 40 years old, he’s still a top-10 player with another two to three years left in the tank. If he wins another title — on a fourth team — his GOAT case gets harder to deny.
8. DETROIT PISTONS – CADE CUNNINGHAM
The Pistons are back — and Cunningham is the reason why.
He’s averaging 25.5 points, 9.4 assists, and 6.3 rebounds — and he’s only 23 years old.
Most Improved Player? He may not want it, but he deserves it.
7. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES – ANTHONY EDWARDS
He leads all NBA players in three-point shooting among those attempting at least 10 per game — and he’s the heartbeat of the Timberwolves.
Oh, and he’s also the most quotable player in basketball.
The league belongs to Ant-Man soon enough.
6. DENVER NUGGETS – NIKOLA JOKIĆ
Jokić is averaging a 30-point triple-double and shooting 45% from three — all while making it look effortless.
If there wasn’t a more impressive season unfolding in Oklahoma City, the MVP race would be his to lose.
5. CLEVELAND CAVALIERS – DONOVAN MITCHELL, DARIUS GARLAND, EVAN MOBLEY
Quietly, Cleveland has built a three-headed monster.
Donovan Mitchell is a bucket. Darius Garland is a floor general. And Evan Mobley has Defensive Player of the Year potential.
Together, they’ve powered the Cavaliers to the East’s best record entering the break.
If Cleveland finally makes a deep playoff run, Mitchell might finally shake the postseason curses that have plagued his career.
And if Mobley’s leap is just the beginning? The Cavs might not be a “future” contender anymore.
4. NEW YORK KNICKS – JALEN BRUNSON, KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS
Brunson and Towns have made MSG must-watch TV.
The Knicks have the NBA’s second-best offense, and when OG Anunoby and Mitchell Robinson return, the defense should follow suit.
This team is dangerous, and it’s led by the “Cap” and the KAT. The stakes, after everything it took to put this team together, are at an all-time high.
Can this duo answer the bell?
3. SAN ANTONIO SPURS – VICTOR WEMBANYAMA
The future of basketball wears a Spurs jersey.
At 7-3 with guard skills, Wembanyama has already flashed the MVP-caliber dominance that made him the most hyped prospect since LeBron.
Defensively, he’s altering shots at a historic rate. Offensively, he’s getting more comfortable creating his own shot.
By the time he hits his prime, the NBA might not have an answer for him.
Then again, his skills have already left the league and its fans speechless, and he’s only 21.
2. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER – SHAI GILGEOUS-ALEXANDER, JALEN WILLIAMS
The Thunder own the best record in the NBA.
And Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the biggest reason why.
OKC’s star guard has elevated his game to MVP levels, while Jalen Williams’ breakout season has helped transform the Thunder from a young, fun team into a legitimate title contender.
And the scary part? Chet Holmgren isn’t even in this conversation yet.
1. BOSTON CELTICS – JAYSON TATUM, JAYLEN BROWN
To be the champs, you’ve got to beat the champs.
Boston still owns the throne.
Say what you want about the Celtics, but they have the league’s deepest, most complete roster. Tatum and Brown are a battle-tested duo, and they’ve led Boston to the best point differential in the NBA.
Do they have weaknesses? Sure.
But until another team knocks them off, the road to the title still runs through Boston.