Every year, the thrill of All-Star Weekend tends to be curtailed by a handful of players who get struck by the injury bug at the most inopportune time. Thus far, there are four high-profile names who have been listed as out for the All-Star festivities happening on the West Coast this weekend.
This year, the NBA is trying out a new “US vs. The World” format that involves two teams representing the USA and one squad with an international roster. As it turned out, there are two US-born players and two non-American players who won’t be suiting up for the various events at Intuit Dome.
NBA All-Star Weekend 2026: Complete List of Inactive Participants Ruled Out With Injury
Cooper Flagg
This season’s top overall pick was set to compete in the Castrol Rising Stars event on Friday. However, Cooper Flagg recently sprained his left foot, and he won’t be able to recover in time for what would have been his first taste of All-Star action.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Even as rumors of his exit from Milwaukee picked up steam, Giannis Antetokounmpo ran into a plot twist when he strained his right calf on January 23. As such, there will be no Greek Freak for “The World” on Sunday.
Steph Curry
The NBA’s all-time leader in three-pointers made had to make an early exit from the Pistons-Warriors game on January 30 due to knee soreness. Unfortunately, Steph Curry (now a 12-time All-Star) will remain on the sidelines this weekend as he recovers from his knee issues.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Just last week, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander suffered an abdominal strain. The reigning MVP has missed games since then, and the All-Star competition on Sunday won’t be any different.
“I Might Go to Bed One Hour Later”: 2x NBA All-Star Opens Up on Excitement Heading Into the Weekend
One player who appears locked and loaded for the All-Star event is Victor Wembanyama. After the Spurs won 126-113 over the Warriors this week, Wembanyama opened up on his mindset heading into his second All-Star appearance.
I’m looking forward to not being as straight in my [regimen]. Right now, I might go to bed one hour later.
Wembanyama is clearly committed to his routines, but when “US vs. The World” unfolds on Sunday, he’ll have plenty of opportunities to just have fun on the court.
