CLEVELAND, Ohio — Donovan Mitchell’s career season has earned him another trip to the NBA’s midseason stage.
The Cavs star was announced Sunday as an All-Star reserve for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game, marking the seventh All-Star selection of his career. The game will be played Feb. 15 at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, and televised by NBC and Peacock at 5 p.m. Eastern.
The seven reserves for each conference were chosen by NBA head coaches. Mitchell is joined by Jalen Johnson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Pascal Siakam, Norman Powell, Scottie Barnes and Jalen Duren from the East. The seven reserves from the West are Anthony Edwards, Jamal Murray, Chet Holmgren, Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Deni Avdija and LeBron James.
Mitchell’s selection comes as little surprise given the level he has reached this season. He is averaging a career-high 29.1 points per game to go along with 5.8 assists and 4.7 rebounds while shooting 48.4% from the field and 38.4% from 3-point range. Mitchell ranks seventh in the NBA in scoring and has knocked down 173 triples, the second-most in the league behind only Stephen Curry.
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Beyond the reserve designation, there is still a realistic path for Mitchell to take on an even bigger role during All-Star weekend.
Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was voted in as an Eastern Conference starter, is currently sidelined with a calf injury. Should Antetokounmpo be unable to participate, Mitchell is among the leading candidates to be elevated as a replacement starter based on his production, league standing and overall impact this season.
That possibility carries added intrigue with the NBA unveiling a new U.S. vs. World format for the 2026 All-Star Game earlier Sunday.
Under the updated structure, two teams of U.S. players and one team of international players, known as the World team, will compete in a round-robin tournament consisting of four 12-minute games. Each team will feature a minimum of eight players.
A promotion to starter could open the door for Mitchell to fulfill a personal goal of playing on Team World and representing Panama, a country tied to his heritage. While Mitchell previously competed for Team USA at the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup, he has openly expressed interest in honoring his Panamanian roots. He has spent multiple summers traveling to Panama, hosting basketball camps and giving back to the community.
The original All-Star starters, selected through a weighted combination of fan, player and media voting, included Antetokounmpo, Cade Cunningham, Tyrese Maxey, Jalen Brunson and Jaylen Brown in the Eastern Conference, along with Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Curry and Victor Wembanyama in the Western Conference.
Regardless of whether a starter promotion materializes, Mitchell’s seventh All-Star appearance serves as another milestone in a season that has firmly placed him among the league’s elite and reinforced his standing as the centerpiece of Cleveland’s championship aspirations.