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Fans wondering why Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA) isn’t in the 2026 NBA All-Star Game are seeing the answer play out in real time: he’s out with an abdominal strain and was ruled unavailable through the All-Star break.
The NBA filled his spot on Team World with Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun, selected as the injury replacement by Commissioner Adam Silver.
SGA is out with an abdominal strain (and OKC set a post-break timeline)
Oklahoma City announced earlier this month that Gilgeous-Alexander suffered an abdominal strain and would be re-evaluated after the All-Star break, which automatically took him out of Sunday’s All-Star showcase.
The NBA’s own injury update noted SGA was expected to miss at least five games and that OKC’s first game after the break is February 20 vs. the Brooklyn Nets, a key date to circle for the next meaningful status update.
From a “why now?” standpoint, that re-evaluation language matters: it’s why he didn’t just “give it a go” for an exhibition. The Thunder are protecting their MVP-caliber engine for the stretch run.
SGA’s stats, scoring and a historic streak
Before the injury, Gilgeous-Alexander was averaging 31.8 points per game (NBA’s No. 2 scorer, per NBA.com) and had built a remarkable run: 121 consecutive games with 20+ points, the second-longest streak in league history behind Wilt Chamberlain’s 126.
That’s part of what made his absence immediately noticeable to casual All-Star viewers, SGA’s game has been a nightly headliner, and he was voted onto the All-Star stage as a starter.
Who replaced SGA? Rockets center Alperen Sengun
The replacement is official and simple: Alperen Sengun is in, SGA is out. The NBA announced Silver’s decision on February 8, placing Sengun on Team World in the new All-Star format.
Why Sengun makes sense (and why you’ll notice him quickly tonight):
Stat profile: 20.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, and a career-high 6.3 assists entering All-Star weekend (per the NBA’s release).
Playmaking big: In a short-game, possession-heavy format, a center who can pass and create dribble-handoffs can swing a mini-tournament.
Team context: The Rockets’ 32-19 record (tied for fourth in the West, per the NBA release) gave the replacement a “winning impact” résumé, not just empty-calorie numbers.
Quick format note: why replacements matter more this year
This isn’t the old “one long exhibition.” The 75th All-Star Game uses a three-team, round-robin mini-tournament (two Team USA rosters plus Team World) with four 12-minute games. One missing star can change rotations fast, because the games are short and the margins are thinner.
What happens next for SGA
If you’re tracking a return timeline, the biggest “next checkpoint” is the Thunder’s post-break re-evaluation and that first game back on Feb. 20. Until the team updates his status, the league’s guidance remains: abdominal strain, re-check after the break.
SGA’s absence also collides with one of OKC’s biggest storylines of the season: how real the Thunder’s “next contender” push is when they’re forced to play without their No. 1 engine. With Gilgeous-Alexander sidelined, the pressure shifts to Oklahoma City’s young core to keep the offense organized and the late-game execution steady, two areas SGA typically stabilizes. That’s why the team’s “re-evaluated after the All-Star break” timeline is so consequential: it’s not just about an exhibition, it’s about OKC’s seeding and momentum heading into the stretch run.
Erik Anderson is an award-winning sports journalist covering the NBA, MLB and NFL for Heavy.com. He also focuses on the trading card market. His work has appeared in nationally-recognized outlets including The New York Times, Associated Press , USA Today, and ESPN. More about Erik Anderson
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