It has long been tradition for the NBA’s head coaches to select the reserves for the league’s annual All-Star Game. While their choices are not always foolproof, this season’s selections do not leave much room for debate.
The two biggest “snubs” for this year’s NBA All-Star game, Trae Young and Domantas Sabonis, are having exceptional statistical seasons, yet their respective teams’ records are far from ideal. A player’s impact on winning often becomes a criteria for these selections and for this season at the very least, the gaudy statistics produced by Young and Sabonis have not been enough to mask their teams’ flaws.

Young’s Atlanta Hawks are currently ninth in the Eastern Conference with a 22-26 slate and none of the players selected to the East roster belong to teams with a worse record. The 26-year-old Young is averaging a league-leading 11.4 assists per game, along with 22.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.3 steals. However, it has not been enough to help the Hawks overcome this injury-riddled campaign.
One could argue that Young deserved a spot over Miami’s Tyler Herro, but the narrative of Herro’s breakout season and the Heat’s resilience amid the ongoing Jimmy Butler drama likely boosted his case.
LaMelo Ball is another notable guard who was left out and would have actually made it as a starter if fan voting was still the sole criteria as he received the most votes among East guards. Unfortunately, his Charlotte Hornets’ 12-33 record weighed him down and it looks like Ball will have to wait another year before participating in his second NBA All-Star game.
In the West, Sabonis was arguably the biggest snub, especially given his career-best averages of 20.9 points and 14.5 rebounds, along with 6.6 assists. He currently leads the league in rebounding, but the Kings’ underwhelming record has dampened his banner season.
Sacramento sits at 10th in the West—better than the teams of two 2025 All-Stars, Stephen Curry’s Warriors and Victor Wembanyama’s Spurs. Still, making a case for Sabonis over an all-time great and the league’s future poster boy is a tough sell.
The fact that Sabonis’ ‘snub’ is actually understandable highlights the depth of the Western Conference. Norman Powell of the Los Angeles Clippers and the Phoenix Suns’ Devin Booker merit consideration as well, although both already have teammates who were named All-Stars (James Harden and Kevin Durant, respectively) and their teams have not done enough to earn two slots.
The fact that there are so many deserving players left off the All-Star team is a testament to the quality of the league today and more than anything, it highlights that the future is indeed bright for the NBA.
