Golden State Warriors superstar guard Stephen Curry was named a Western Conference starter for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game on Monday, marking his 12th All-Star selection and 11th start.
This year’s honor comes with added significance, though, as following Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James’ stunning omission, the two-time MVP became the oldest starter in either conference.
Stephen Curry Embraces Becoming Oldest NBA All-Star Starter Amid Elite Age-37 Season
Curry wasn’t a lock for an All-Star starter spot, given the stiff competition among West backcourt standouts. However, fans and his fellow players ultimately had his back.
The four-time NBA champion finished third in West fan voting, which accounted for 50% of the selection process, receiving 2,817,562 votes. Meanwhile, he placed second among players and sixth among media members, good for the conference’s fourth-best weighted ranking score (3.5).
Joining Curry out West are the Lakers’ Luka Dončić, Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokić, Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and San Antonio Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama.
On the Eastern Conference side, starters include the Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo, New York Knicks’ Jalen Brunson, Philadelphia 76ers’ Tyrese Maxey, Detroit Pistons’ Cade Cunningham, and Boston Celtics’ Jaylen Brown.
Among the most notable snubs was James, largely due to his longstanding presence as a starter at the event throughout most of his illustrious 23-year career. Entering this season, the 41-year-old had been named a starter for a historic 21 consecutive All-Star Games dating back to 2005, before Curry was drafted.
This year’s All-Star starters are predominantly composed of the NBA’s brightest young stars under 30. As such, Curry is the clear elder statesman of the group, a title he is taking in stride.
“I love the fact that pretty much every acknowledgement you get at this point is you’re the oldest to do something,” Curry quipped after Monday’s 135-112 home win over the Miami Heat.
“So, I don’t ever take that for granted. I appreciate everyone who voted and my teammates who continue to set the table for me to do what I do and keep pushing the envelope of what’s possible at this stage in my career.”
Curry, who leads the NBA in all-time 3-pointers (4,212) by a large margin and is widely considered the greatest shooter ever, then turned sentimental about his sustained impact on the game.
“I’m gonna enjoy the weekend, but just the idea that I can get back to that level year after year, and the work that goes into it, I love it, and hopefully I have a couple more in the future,” Curry shared. “But this is pretty special for sure.”
Stephen Curry reacts to replacing LeBron James as the oldest starter at the All-Star Game. pic.twitter.com/VEOStaxjrT
— StatHunter (@stat_hunter) January 20, 2026
While the Warriors (25-19) are no longer the perennial championship contenders they once were, Curry has shown few signs of slowing down, serving as one of the league’s premier offensive catalysts on a playoff contender.
Through 34 outings, Curry is averaging 27.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.1 steals, and a league-leading 4.5 3-pointers per game on remarkable 47.0/38.9/93.1 shooting splits.
