Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been ruled out of the NBA All-Star game. The Thunder announced earlier in the week that Gilgeous-Alexander will be re-evaluated after the All-Star break, meaning the World squad will need to name a substitute.
Despite his injury, the Thunder star is among the favorites to win back-to-back MVP awards this year. He is averaging 31.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game this year. The Thunder currently sit atop the Western Conference despite his absence.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Absence Opens Spot for Houston Rockets Center
Following the reveal that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will miss the All-Star game, NBA commissioner Adam Silver has named his replacement. From the World’s substitute pool, the two named options were Houston Rockets’ center Alperen Şengün and Joel Embiid.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has named Rockets center Alperen Sengun as an All-Star replacement for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on Team World.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) February 8, 2026
“NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has named Rockets center Alperen Şengün as an All-Star replacement for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on Team World,” revealed NBA insider Chris Haynes. Şengün ultimately got the nod over Embiid, who was also a potential option.
This is the second straight All-Star appearance for Şengün. This season, the Rockets’ center has averaged 20.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game. He also scored 17 points as the Rockets took a 106-112 victory over the Thunder without their MVP last night.
Şengün agreed to a 5-year, $185 million rookie extension back in 2024, meaning that he will be contracted to the Rockets for another 3 years. The contract includes a player option in the last year. The Rockets’ star signed this contract after being considered for the All-Star Game that year.
Following his omission from the All-Star game this year, Şengün was considered one of the biggest snubs for the roster this season. Şengün’s teammate, Kevin Durant, was also named to the All-Star roster this year, as the Rockets sit 4th in the Western Conference.
“Durant will be in Los Angeles for his 16th All-Star Game, but for my money, Alperen Şengün was the biggest snub out there. He deserved a spot more than LeBron, going just on play the past year,” claimed NBC Sports writer Kurt Helin.
LeBron James, 41, was the last player announced in the All-Star game announcements this season. This season, LeBron has averaged 21.8 points, 5.7 assists, and 6.8 rebounds per game; however, many have argued that Şengün could have been considered over the Lakers’ star.
“I didn’t really think about it. To be honest, it wasn’t a goal of mine to come into the season, miss the first 14 games and say, ‘OK, I need to be an All-Star.’ I just wanted to get back to playing the game at a high level I knew I was capable of.” James stated.
While the absence of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will be felt in the All-Star game this year, it has at least opened a spot for Şengün to take a deserved spot on the roster. The 2026 NBA All-Star Game will take place on Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026, in Los Angeles.
