This NBA season’s All-Star Game is shaking things up as Commissioner Adam Silver introduces a new format designed to revive interest in a matchup that players globally haven’t been taking seriously. Instead of the traditional East vs. West or captain-selected teams, the competition will now feature three teams—two representing the U.S. and one representing the rest of the world—each composed of eight players, for a total of 24 All-Stars battling it out in a round-robin style tournament.
The starters, announced a couple of weeks ago, are joined by seven reserves from each conference, chosen by coaches on Sunday night. Here’s the complete roster breakdown:
- Western starters: Stephen Curry, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka Doncic, Victor Wembanyama, Nikola Jokic
- Western reserves: Anthony Edwards, Jamal Murray, Chet Holmgren, Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Deni Avdija, LeBron James
- Eastern starters: Jalen Brunson, Tyrese Maxey, Cade Cunningham, Jaylen Brown, Giannis Antetokounmpo
- Eastern reserves: Donovan Mitchell, Pascal Siakam, Norman Powell, Scottie Barnes, Jalen Duren, Jalen Johnson, Karl-Anthony Towns
While some choices were expected, such as LeBron’s inclusion on the strength of his legendary career, I was pleasantly surprised to see both Avdija and Powell make the cut, even though I initially thought they wouldn’t. However, several notable players were left out, sparking debate about some controversial snubs.
Notable Western Conference Snubs
Kawhi Leonard (Clippers):
Leonard is putting up a career-best season, averaging 27.7 points per game, and he’s on track to join the elite 50/40/90 shooting club. His free-throw accuracy stands at 94%, leading the league, and he’s also a defensive asset with 2.1 steals per game. Comparatively, he outshines many selected players, including LeBron. Despite an ongoing NBA investigation into the Clippers for potential salary cap violations, his omission feels unjustified. If it were close, I might give LeBron the nod based on legacy, but Leonard clearly deserves a spot—Ty Lue agrees.
Alperen Sengun (Rockets):
Sengun is among the three players in the NBA averaging at least 20 points, nine rebounds, and six assists per game, alongside greats like Jokic and Jalen Johnson. Houston is performing strongly this season, yet only Kevin Durant is chosen to represent them. Arguably, the Thunder warrants two representatives before Houston gets three, and Sengun’s contributions merit recognition. If Kawhi replaces LeBron, Sengun could likely take a spot over either Jamal Murray or Devin Booker, both of whom have had strong seasons but arguably not as impactful as Sengun.
James Harden (Clippers):
Though the Clippers’ disappointing record might justify limiting their representation, Harden’s recent offensive leap—propelling the fifth-best scoring offense in the league over the last two months—cannot be overlooked. While his defense leaves something to be desired, offensively Harden has proven worthy of All-Star consideration, possibly more so than LeBron this year.
Lauri Markkanen (Jazz):
It’s rare to see a 7-foot player averaging nearly 28 points per game go unselected. While Holmgren is a worthy contender thanks to his defense and the Thunder’s excellent performance, Markkanen’s exclusion is baffling, especially since he’s the sole Jazz player considered. The NBA should reconsider the conference-based roster limits since they no longer reflect the league’s competitive balance. With this format, the West would dominate if there were no restrictions, underscoring the unfairness faced by stellar players like Markkanen.
Overlooked Eastern Conference Players
Michael Porter Jr. (Nets):
Porter has evolved into a dependable scorer for Brooklyn, functioning primarily off the ball in a rare style reminiscent of Reggie Miller. His shooting percentage and all-around stats surpass those of Norman Powell, a reserve in this year’s All-Star Game. While Powell is deserving, Porter’s performances arguably warrant inclusion ahead of Powell and Karl-Anthony Towns.
Joel Embiid (76ers):
Embiid’s situation is more nuanced. Despite being a dominant player, the 76ers are statistically worse with him on the floor, and he only played 28 games due to a rocky start. While some might argue for Embiid over Towns, who is facing his worst shooting season, the coaches seemed justified in their decision to leave Embiid out for now.
Fan Take:
This new All-Star format and the ensuing roster debates highlight the evolving dynamics of the NBA and its talent distribution. For basketball fans, these decisions matter because they reflect not only the current state of player performances but also spark conversations about fairness and the future shape of the league’s most celebrated showcase event.
