A deserving player — and sometimes players — will not make the NBA All-Star team.
It happens.
The league is full of talented players. With just 24 roster spots, not everyone who is having an All-Star season will get recognized as such.
We call them snubs.
Now that the 14 reserves have been announced, it’s time to take stock.
But keep in mind, if you think one player who didn’t make it should’ve made it, who would you take off the list? It’s a difficult exercise.
Regardless of the answer, here are players we would’ve been content with making the All-Star team.
De’Aaron Fox, Sacramento Kings
Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers
Given the several injuries Joel Embiid has dealt with, and given the inconsistency with which Paul George has performed, Maxey is seemingly single-handedly keeping the Sixers’ season afloat. Maxey, who earned his first career All-Star nod last season, is averaging a career-high 27.1 points per game, and is just 0.2 percentage points off of last year’s numbers in rebounds (3.5) and assists (6.0).
Kyrie Irving, Dallas Mavericks
Irving is having a very good season despite drawing far more attention from defenders in the absence of Luka Dončić, who has played in just 22 games this season. Irving’s scoring, assists and rebounding totals are down slightly from last season, but he has remained a consistent threat from beyond the arc, shooting a career high 41.9% from 3-point range.
Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks
This is arguably one of the more interesting test cases for snubs. Young leads the NBA in assists per game (11.4) by a considerable margin of 1.3. If you look at totals, Young has 78 more assists than the second-ranked player, Nuggets star Nikola Jokić, despite Jokić playing only two games fewer. Yet, Young’s scoring is the lowest it has been (22.7 points per game) since his rookie season (19.1). His shooting percentage this season (40.2%) is a career low. His defense continues to be subpar. The Hawks, however, have been far more competitive this season.
Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings
Though he is often overlooked, Sabonis is one of the steadiest producers in the NBA. He leads the league in rebounding, pulling down 14.5 boards per game, and also is averaging 20.9 points and 6.6 assists. He’s often the point through which Sacramento runs its offense. He’s third in the NBA with eight triple-doubles. Yet, the argument against Sabonis is that, in a Western Conference loaded with elite frontcourt talent, which player would need to be left out for him to be included?
Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls
Perhaps because his name is constantly floating around in trade rumors, and perhaps because the Bulls are stuck in something of a middling purgatory — sitting at eight games under .500 — LaVine didn’t appear to draw serious All-Star consideration. Yet, LaVine has embraced efficiency from all levels, shooting career bests from the field (51.1%) and from 3-point range (44.6%). In fact, of all players who have taken at least 100 3s this season, LaVine ranks fifth in 3-point percentage. Of all players to have at least 200 attempts, he ranks first. And, LaVine has 305 attempts on the season.