Deni Avdija becomes the first Portland Trail Blazers All-Star since Damian Lillard was selected in 2023, the team announced Sunday.

PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija has been selected as a 2026 NBA All-Star, the NBA announced Sunday.

The selection marks the first All-Star nod of Avdija’s career. According to the Trail Blazers, Avdija is in his sixth NBA season and is having a career year, averaging 25.5 points, 7.2 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game while starting all 44 contests this season.

The team said Avdija is one of three players leaguewide averaging at least 25 points, seven assists and six rebounds per game. He also ranks among the NBA’s top 15 players in total points and total assists this season, according to the release.

Portland said Avdija has recorded 21 games this season with at least 25 points, five rebounds and five assists — the third-most in the NBA during the 2025–26 campaign and the most by a Trail Blazers player since the 2018–19 season.

Avdija becomes the 17th player in franchise history to earn NBA All-Star honors and the first since guard Damian Lillard was selected in 2023, when he received his seventh All-Star nod. Only Clyde Drexler, who was named an All-Star eight times during his tenure in Portland, has more All-Star selections with the franchise than Lillard, according to the team.

The NBA announced the Western Conference starters as Stephen Curry of Golden State, Luka Dončić of the Los Angeles Lakers, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of Oklahoma City, Nikola Jokić of Denver and Victor Wembanyama of San Antonio. Western Conference reserves include Avdija, Anthony Edwards of Minnesota, Jamal Murray of Denver, Chet Holmgren of Oklahoma City, Kevin Durant of Houston, Devin Booker of Phoenix and LeBron James of the Lakers, the league said.

The 2026 NBA All-Star Game will feature a new U.S. vs. World format. NBC and Peacock will broadcast the game on Sunday, Feb. 15, at 5 p.m. ET (2 p.m. PT) from Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, home of the Los Angeles Clippers, according to the NBA.

Under the new format, two teams composed of U.S. players and one team of international players will compete in a round-robin tournament featuring four 12-minute games. Each team will have a minimum of eight players, the league said.