Eastern Conference All-Star Reserves
The seven players from the Eastern Conference are: Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell, New York Knicks forward-center Karl-Anthony Towns, Toronto Raptors point-forward Scottie Barnes, Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam, Atlanta Hawks point-forward Jalen Johnson, Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren, and Miami Heat wing Norman Powell.
Donovan Mitchell, Karl-Anthony Towns
Mitchell leads the East’s All-Star reserves with his seventh career selection. Having what’s frankly a redemptive season after taking his foot off the gas in 2024-25, he’s averaging a career-high 29.1 points and 5.8 assists per game. It’s a shame that the Cavs as a whole haven’t been that stellar, prompting them to make a head-turning trade this weekend.
Towns is set to make his sixth All-Star appearance despite what’s been a trying 2025-26 campaign. That has to feel good if you’re the Big Bodega. An inside-outside scorer averaging 20.0 points (and 11.8 rebounds) per game on a commendable 3-point percentage (.361) for a player who’s 7-foot-0, he’s still one of the toughest players to guard.
Scottie Barnes, Pascal Siakam
In terms of publicity, Barnes has been overshadowed by teammate Brandon Ingram this season. His game isn’t as aesthetically pleasing, particularly as a scorer, so it’s not as easy to appreciate. Even so, he’s a volume-scoring two-way player with but one of the most well-rounded games in the league, leading to his second All-Star appearance.
Siakam, Barnes’s former teammate, hasn’t been performing miracles for the Pacers. However, he does plenty to keep them in the fight, averaging a team-high 23.8 points per game. In fact, he’s the only Pacers player putting up at least 18 points per game. The all-around veteran will be making his fourth All-Star appearance.
Jalen Johnson, Jalen Duren, Norman Powell
Johnson’s bildungsroman season continues with the first All-Star selection of his career. In 46 games, the 24-year-old is averaging 23.1 points, 10.5 rebounds, 8.0 assists and 1.3 assists per contest. His ascendance has led to him becoming the face of the Hawks franchise and their undisputed leader.
Duren is the second first-time All-Star on the Eastern Conference reserve list. Long a beastly rebounder, he’s now coming into his own offensively and defensively. In fact, he’s averaging a career-high 18.0 points per game in 2025-26. The 22-year-old will be joined in Los Angeles by Pistons commander Cade Cunningham, who’ll be an All-Star starter.
All’s well that ends well. After many felt he was the most glaring snub from the 2024-25 selections, Powell is finally an All-Star. To be frank, his performances have tapered off since Thanksgiving. However, he’s averaged 21+ points per game every month of the season and has made 39.0% of his 3s in 2025-26.
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