The NBA All-Star reserves have officially been announced, and as always, the reveal sparked as much frustration as celebration. While some players are rightfully packing their bags for Indianapolis, others-despite standout seasons-will be watching from home. And this year, the Western Conference snubs are turning heads for all the right (and wrong) reasons.
Let’s start in Los Angeles, where the All-Star Game is set to tip off at the Clippers’ brand-new Intuit Dome. You’d think the host team would have at least one representative, right?
Not this time. Neither Kawhi Leonard nor James Harden made the cut, despite both averaging over 25 points per game and being the driving force behind a dramatic midseason turnaround.
After a brutal 6-21 start, the Clippers are now within striking distance of .500-and that’s largely thanks to the resurgence of their two veteran stars.
Kawhi, in particular, has looked every bit like an MVP candidate lately. Sure, he's missed more games than Harden, but when he’s on the floor, he’s been dominant.
If there’s one name that feels like a glaring omission, it’s his. Harden, too, has been steady and explosive, orchestrating the offense and reminding everyone he’s still got plenty left in the tank.
Former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas didn’t hold back, calling the current All-Star rosters “embarrassing” for leaving both Clippers off. But the real question is: who do you take off to make room?
Some names are untouchable. Anthony Edwards and Kevin Durant have been elite all season.
LeBron James? There was never a world where he wasn’t making the team-especially with the possibility that this could be his final All-Star appearance.
That leaves a handful of names in the conversation: Deni Avdija, Devin Booker, Jamal Murray, and Chet Holmgren.
Avdija’s emergence in Portland has been one of the league’s best stories. He’s stepped up in a big way, keeping the Blazers competitive through the chaos of Chauncey Billups’ early-season legal troubles. Devin Booker, meanwhile, has been the stabilizing force in Phoenix, leading a 30-20 Suns team that’s outperformed expectations after a rocky offseason.
Then there’s Jamal Murray. With Nikola Jokic missing time, Murray took the reins and kept Denver in the thick of the race for the 2-seed. His playmaking and shot-making have been critical for the defending champs.
That brings us to Holmgren, the rookie big man in Oklahoma City. His inclusion has sparked plenty of debate.
On a recent episode of No Fouls Given, Danny Green and Paul Pierce went back and forth on whether Chet truly earned his spot. Green argued that while Holmgren has been solid, he hasn’t been as consistent as some of the other candidates.
“I’m not hating on Chet,” Green said. “I don’t think anybody else outside of SGA has been consistent on OKC.
I’m not taking away from Chet - I think he’s a good player, and they deserve two, but I think some other guys are more deserving. I thought [Alperen] Sengun was more deserving.”
And that’s a tough argument to ignore. Sengun has quietly been the engine of Houston’s offense this season.
With Fred VanVleet sidelined before the season even began due to an ACL tear, Sengun has shouldered a massive load-and he’s done it with poise and production. He’s averaging 21.0 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game, and he’s been the focal point of nearly everything the Rockets do on that end of the floor.
But Pierce countered with a point that’s long been true in All-Star voting: winning matters. “When you’re the best record, you’re getting two or more,” he said.
And that’s what helped Holmgren. With Jalen Williams missing significant time, Chet has stepped up as the second-most important player on a team that’s on pace for 64 wins and a top seed in the West.
The same logic applied in the East, where the Pistons-yes, the Pistons-earned two All-Star nods with Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren representing the conference leaders.
Holmgren might not have the raw numbers that Sengun or even Kawhi bring to the table, but he’s been durable (44 games played) and a much-needed defensive anchor for an OKC team that’s been elite on both ends. Sometimes, that combination of availability and team success is enough to tip the scales.
Ultimately, this year’s All-Star snubs underline one big truth: the NBA is loaded with talent. There simply aren’t enough roster spots to reward every deserving player. The selection process is often more art than science, with team success, availability, and narrative all playing a role.
So while Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, and Alperen Sengun might not be suiting up in the All-Star Game, their impact on this season is undeniable. And if their current form holds, they’ll have plenty more to say in the second half of the season-All-Star nod or not.