NBA All-Star Reserves and Snubs

The NBA unveiled its All-Star reserves Sunday night, and as always, the snubs are generating more buzz than the selections themselves. This year's announcement delivered a mix of well-earned nods, eyebrow-raising surprises, and a handful of controversial omissions that fans won't stop debating anytime soon.

The biggest name in the sport continues to make his presence felt, even in his 23rd season, as LeBron James extends his streak to 22 consecutive All-Star selections despite missing 17 games and posting the lowest numbers since his rookie season with 21.9 points, 6.6 assists, and 5.8 rebounds at age 41. Kevin Durant (Houston) joins him as part of the reserve unit, as do Devin Booker (Phoenix), Anthony Edwards (Minnesota), and a trio of first-time players in Chet Holmgren (OKC), Deni Avdija (Portland), and Jamal Murray (Denver). The East rewarded breakout seasons from first-timers Norman Powell (Miami), Jalen Johnson (Atlanta), and Jalen Duren (Detroit), who join Donovan Mitchell (Cleveland), Karl-Anthony Towns (New York), Pascal Siakam (Indiana), and Scottie Barnes (Toronto) to round out the Eastern Conference's seven reserves.

While one can argue that all of these players are worthy of a spot on the All-Star roster, the biggest controversy might be that not a single Clippers player made the cut despite the game being played at their home arena in Los Angeles. Kawhi Leonard entered the weekend top-10 in scoring and has been instrumental in transforming the Clippers into one of the West's hottest teams since Christmas. James Harden also had a strong case. Yet both were passed over in what might be James's final All-Star Game, a choice that feels more like a lifetime achievement than a merit-based selection.

Alperen Sengun might have the strongest snub case of anyone, but he will likely be named as a replacement for Giannis Antetokounmpo on the International roster. The Rockets center improved across the board from his first All-Star appearance last season, anchoring Houston's defense while posting better counting stats and helping his team to a top-four seed in the West. One could argue that if James made the final cut, why couldn't Joel Embiid, who over 28 games has averaged 26.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 3.9 assists while helping the Sixers to a top-six berth? While the Raptors do have one representative in Barnes, some may argue that Brandon Ingram may have been a more worthy selection.

As with every All-Star selection announcement, the debate over who deserved a spot will continue until the end of the event. But with the new USA vs. International format adding an extra layer of intrigue and national pride, this year's controversies might actually enhance the game rather than overshadow it.