The NBA All-Star Game is getting a facelift this year. In an effort to inject new life into a showcase that’s struggled to capture the players’ competitive fire-and, let’s be honest, the fans’ attention-league commissioner Adam Silver has rolled out a brand-new format: USA vs.
The World. Gone is the familiar East vs.
West or the recent captain-led drafts. Instead, we’ll see three teams of eight players each-two representing the U.S. and one representing international talent-squaring off in a round-robin tournament.
The 10 starters were announced a couple of weeks ago, and on Sunday night, coaches across the league revealed their picks for the 14 reserves. And as is tradition, the announcement sparked a wave of debate-because no matter how you slice it, there are always deserving players left on the outside looking in.
Let’s break down the most notable snubs from both conferences, starting with the Western Conference, where the talent pool is especially deep this season.
Western Conference Snubs
Kawhi Leonard, Clippers
Kawhi Leonard is putting together one of the best seasons of his career-and that’s saying something for a two-time Finals MVP.
He’s averaging 27.7 points per game, a personal best, while flirting with the elite 50/40/90 shooting club. His 94% free throw percentage leads the league, and he’s also averaging 2.1 steals per game, another league-best mark.
The Clippers have been on an absolute tear over the past couple of months, and Leonard has been the engine driving that surge. The numbers are there.
The impact is obvious. And yet, he’s not on the All-Star roster.
Yes, LeBron James made it in again. And if you’re someone who values legacy and longevity, that’s understandable.
But if we’re talking strictly about this season’s performance? Kawhi has been better.
It’s not a toss-up-it’s a gap. Even Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue chimed in, saying Leonard has been "the best player in the NBA" over the last six weeks.
That’s not hyperbole; it’s a reflection of just how dominant Kawhi has been.
There’s also the backdrop of an ongoing NBA investigation into the Clippers regarding possible salary cap violations. But unless and until that yields something concrete, it shouldn’t be factoring into All-Star selections.
On the court, Kawhi’s been elite. Full stop.
Alperen Sengun, Rockets
Alperen Sengun is in rare company this season.
Only three players in the league are averaging at least 20 points, nine rebounds, and six assists: Nikola Jokić, Jalen Johnson, and Sengun. That’s it.
And while Jokić is widely regarded as the best player on the planet and Johnson earned his All-Star nod, Sengun is left out.
Houston has been one of the league’s best surprises this season, and Sengun is a big reason why. He’s the offensive hub, the defensive anchor, and the heartbeat of a team that’s been punching above its weight all year. Only Kevin Durant made the cut from the Rockets, but there’s a strong argument to be made that Houston deserved at least two All-Stars.
If you’re looking for a spot, Sengun could easily slide in over Jamal Murray or Devin Booker. Murray is having a fantastic season and finally gets his long-overdue recognition, but if we’re not giving LeBron a pass based on past accolades, then why should Murray get one? Booker’s been solid, but Sengun’s all-around production and impact arguably give him the edge.
James Harden, Clippers
James Harden may not be lighting it up in the efficiency column, but he's been the primary playmaker for a Clippers team that’s quietly become one of the most potent offenses in the league over the past two months. He’s orchestrating the attack, setting the tempo, and making life easier for everyone around him.
Yes, the Clippers are hovering around the play-in zone, and yes, Kawhi is the more deserving All-Star. But Harden deserves a mention. His defense won’t win him any awards, but offensively, he’s been a catalyst-and that counts for something.
Lauri Markkanen, Jazz
Lauri Markkanen is averaging 27 points and seven rebounds per game.
That’s not just All-Star caliber-that’s "should be a lock" territory. But in this stacked Western Conference, even numbers like that don’t guarantee you a spot.
Markkanen’s versatility as a seven-footer who can stretch the floor, attack closeouts, and rebound at a high level makes him a matchup nightmare. His teammate Keyonte George has also been impressive, but if Utah was going to get just one rep, Markkanen is the obvious choice.
Chet Holmgren has been phenomenal for the Thunder and absolutely deserves his spot, especially with the defensive impact he brings to OKC’s top-tier squad. But the fact that a player like Markkanen is left off the roster underscores just how brutal the selection process is in the West.
And let’s be honest: the conference restrictions in All-Star voting are starting to feel outdated. The actual game doesn’t follow those lines anymore, so why should the selection process? If it were a straight-up best 24 players approach, most of these Western snubs would be in.
Eastern Conference Snubs
Michael Porter Jr., Nets
Michael Porter Jr. has transformed himself this season into a bona fide go-to scorer in Brooklyn.
He’s doing it in a style that’s increasingly rare in today’s game-working almost entirely off the ball, a throwback to the Reggie Miller and Rip Hamilton mold. And he’s doing it with ruthless efficiency.
Porter is having one of the most difficult shot-making seasons we’ve seen in years. He’s taking heavily contested threes at a volume and difficulty level matched only by the likes of peak Kobe and Harden-and he’s hitting 40% of them. That’s elite.
Statistically, he’s outpacing Norman Powell in points, rebounds, and assists, and doing it on better shooting splits. Powell’s inclusion isn’t undeserved-he’s been excellent-but if we’re splitting hairs, MPJ has a legitimate case to be in over Karl-Anthony Towns or Powell.
Joel Embiid, 76ers
Joel Embiid’s exclusion is a tough one, but it’s understandable.
He’s been dominant when on the floor, and the Sixers are nearly 10 points per 100 possessions better with him in the lineup. But he’s only played in 28 games so far, and not all of them at an All-Star level.
If availability matters-and it should-then leaving Embiid off the roster is a fair decision. If someone wants to argue that he should be in over Towns, who’s having the worst shooting season of his career, there’s a case to be made. But given how few games Embiid has played, the coaches likely made the right call here.
Final Thoughts
Every year, the All-Star selections spark debate, and this season is no different.
The new USA vs. World format adds a fresh twist, but the core issue remains: there are more deserving players than there are roster spots.
That’s a testament to the level of talent across the league right now.
Kawhi Leonard, Alperen Sengun, and Lauri Markkanen headline a list of players who, in most seasons, would be surefire All-Stars. Michael Porter Jr. is having a historically efficient shooting season.
James Harden has quietly been the engine behind a surging Clippers offense. And Joel Embiid, when healthy, is still one of the most dominant forces in the game.
The All-Star Game is about celebrating the league’s best. And while the format may be evolving, the conversations around who deserves a spot will always be part of the fun.