Let's face it, the Eastern Conference is the inferior conference. It is currently, and has been for quite some time. Thus, the conference's inferior talent comes with the territory. A season ago, the Eastern Conference featured five teams with 48-plus wins, while the West saw eight teams eclipse the 48-win plateau.
However, the East's All-Star squad saw the same number of first-time selections as the West's (three). Nevertheless, not one Eastern Conference All-Star from a season ago had 10 prior selections under their belt, as opposed to five Western Conference participants.
Yet despite the seemingly considerable number of young All-Stars in the Eastern Conference, at least two players who didn't make the exclusive squad a year ago will be featured on the 2026 iteration. That is, unless the NBA opts to adopt the proposed USA vs. World format.
The Eastern Conference player hierrchy is in flux
The newest members will take the spots of Jayson Tatum and Damian Lillard, who both tore their Achilles' tendons last postseason, not to mention Lillard's move to the West. Moreover, after what we witnessed in the playoffs, it's almost preposterous to think Tyrese Haliburton wasn't an All-Star a season ago—yet here we are. Still, like Tatum and Lillard, Haliburton won't be making an All-Star appearance in 2026, as he'll also be recovering from an Achilles tear.
With that being said, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jalen Brunson, Cade Cunningham, and Donovan Mitchell feel like the only true locks. At the same time, Jaylen Brown, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Trae Young are pretty darn close. That leaves us with at least five players vying for the remaining spots.
Joel Embiid could easily be penciled in, but routine injury concerns have inserted a permanent asterisk next to his name. Besides Embiid, only Orlando Magic teammates Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, who weren't selected to the prestigious team in 2025, feel like shoo-ins.
Josh Giddey's stat-sheet stuffing hints at All-Star potential
The Athletic's NBA Daily Podcast would agree, as Wagner was ranked as the likeliest first-time All-Star amongst a panel of four NBA pundits. Following Wagner was his Magic teammate Desmond Bane; Atlanta Hawks' Jalen Johnson; Chicago Bulls' Josh Giddey; Brooklyn Nets' Cam Thomas; and Boston Celtics' Derrick White.
With the logic used above, coupled with The Athletic NBA Daily's first-time All-Star draft, Giddey would just miss the cut. That is, of course, if Embiid is healthy when February rolls around and players like Tyrese Maxey, LaMelo Ball, Tyler Herro, Bam Adebayo, Evan Mobley, and Scottie Barnes don't earn bids.
Far too many variables, such as injuries and team record, can be used to project future All-Stars. Nonetheless, as The Athletic's Alex Speers pointed out, Giddey's post-2025 All-Star break numbers are indicative of what's to come for a Zach LaVine-less Bulls. Giddey averaged 21.2 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 9.3 assists, all while shooting 50.0 percent from the floor and 45.7 percent from three.
Only one player matched Giddey's post-All-Star break numbers for the entirety of the 2024-25 season—Nikola Jokic. It's a stretch to assume the Aussie's post-All-Star break statistics will hold up next season, especially his shooting percentages. Giddey has never averaged more than 17.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, or 8.0 assists in any season. Thinking optimistically, Giddey is only 22 years old, and his usage saw a 4.5 percent bump from pre- to post-All-Star. Another year of development, coupled with an increased workload from the beginning of the season, should bode well for Giddey's future endeavors.
If Giddey hovers around 20, 10, and 10, while converting 40 percent of his three-pointers, his All-Star case will be strong. All in all, the points made above come with the assumption that Giddey will be back in the Windy City next season. It's more likely than not he will be, but far from a foregone conclusion nearly a month following the beginning of free agency.