Sengun Replaces Injured Gilgeous-Alexander on All-Star Team

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning NBA Most Valuable Player, will miss the 2026 NBA All-Star Game due to an abdominal strain, league officials announced Sunday. Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun will replace him on the World Team for the event, set for Feb. 15 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

Gilgeous-Alexander, who has already sat out two games because of the injury, was selected as a reserve for the All-Star roster earlier this season. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver made the replacement decision, a process he oversees for injury-related absences. Sengun, in his fifth NBA season, earns his second consecutive All-Star nod and becomes the first Turkish player to achieve that distinction. The 22-year-old center is averaging 20.8 points, 9.4 rebounds and a career-high 6.3 assists per game for the Rockets, who hold a strong position in the Western Conference standings.

This year's All-Star Weekend introduces a novel format designed to heighten competition: a mini-tournament featuring three teams, two representing the United States (USA Stars and USA Stripes) and one for the World. The 24 selected players will compete in a round-robin of...