NBA All-Star Game snubs: Kawhi Leonard, Joel Embiid, James Harden, Alperen Şengün don’t make the cut

With the announcement of NBA All-Star reserves on Sunday, the full lineup for the All-Star Game on February 15 has been determined.

Of course, the lineup is stacked. But in a league with more than 24 players worthy of consideration, there are snubs — or at least perceived snubs. The roster of players who didn’t advance this year includes some All-Star regulars who have performed well.

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Los Angeles Clippers fans may be upset more than any other fans. A dismal start to the season has taken the Clippers off the radar. Even though the Clippers had two perennial All-Stars (when healthy) in their stellar seasons, a 16-4 run since a 6-21 start wasn’t enough to earn the Clippers an All-Star nod.

All-Star reserves are selected by NBA coaches after fans, players and media vote to determine the starting players.

Kawhi Leonard

Injuries have limited six-time All-Star Kawhi Leonard to just one selection in the past four seasons. After Sunday, make it a fifth.

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The two-time Finals MVP, two-time Defensive Player of the Year and six-time All-NBA selection is having the best scoring season of his career, averaging 27.7 points per game. He is tied for first in the league with 2.1 steals per game and is the league’s best free throw shooter with 93.5 percent free throw shooting. He filled the numbers with impressive averages of 6.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 0.6 blocks per game.

But it wasn’t enough to separate the 12 NBA All-Stars from the Western Conference. As always, his availability could be a contributing factor. He’s healthy by his own standards but has missed 13 of the Clippers’ 47 games.

James Harden

Harden is an 11-time All-Star and is making his 12th All-Star appearance this season for good reason. He averaged 25.4 points per game, his best scoring season since playing for the Houston Rockets in 2019-20, and won his third consecutive scoring title (34.3 points per game). Like Leonard, he averaged 8.1 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game, effectively filling in the statistical gaps.

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Unlike Leonard, Harden’s playing time isn’t an issue as he has played in 44 of the Clippers’ 47 games.

Joel Embiid

Embiid may be the only NBA star who rivals Leonard when it comes to durability. But when he took the court this season, he showed his former All-Star form by averaging 26.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.1 blocks per game.

He did that for the Philadelphia 76ers, who bounced back from a 24-58 season and moved into playoff contention at 27-21. With Tyrese Maxey and rookie VJ Edgecombe starring, he’s also adapted to the roster’s shift toward youth. But he’s moved on from his previous MVP form. 28 of Philadelphia’s 48 games didn’t force coaches to add him to the roster.

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Alperon Sengon

While the above-mentioned All-Star veterans all have valid reasons, Alperen Sengun’s case may be the strongest of Sunday’s snubs. Sengun improved almost across the board during his breakout season in 2024-25, when he averaged 21 points, 9.2 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 1.4 steals and 1 block per game and was selected to the All-Star Game for the first time. With the exception of his rebounding average, every other stat represents a career high.

His three-point shooting percentage also hit a career high, as high as 30%, and he averaged two long-range shots per game. He’s done that while adapting well to playing alongside Kevin Durant on a Rockets team that’s 30-17 and entering Sunday in fourth place in the Western Conference.

Michael Porter Jr.

Porter has gone from a strong contributor on a championship team to a stat-filler on a bad team. While stepping out of the shadows of Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, Porter has thrived in the Brooklyn Nets spotlight, averaging 25.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.1 steals per game, all career highs.

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He maintains one of the best combinations of height and shooting in the league, averaging 9.3 three-pointers per game with a success rate of 39.8%. For a Nets team that’s 13-34, that’s not enough to sway All-Star selectors.

Julius Randle

After struggling to integrate into the team in his first season with the Timberwolves, Randle found his groove in his second season with Minnesota. Randle averaged 18.7 points per game last season, his lowest total since playing for the Los Angeles Lakers in 2017-18.

He rebounded this season with averages of 22.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.2 steals per game. His 49.3 field success rate was his best in seven seasons. But it wasn’t enough to earn him his fourth career All-Star selection.

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Lauri Markkanen

After shrinking due to injury last season, Lauri Markkanen arguably played the best season of his career, averaging 27.4 points, 7 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1 steal per game, averaging 7.9 three-pointers per game and shooting 36.4% from the field.

But he’s doing so for a Jazz team that’s 15-34, hurting his chances of making the All-Star team for the second time in his career.

Keyonte George

Third-year player Keyonte George is having a breakout season, averaging 24.2 points, 6.6 assists, 4 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game, while taking 6.8 three-pointers per game and shooting 37.7% from the field. But like Markkanen, his case was hampered by playing for a bad Jazz team.

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George’s first All-Star selection would have to wait.

Who are you going to kill?

As with All-Star snubs, if you’re going to defend a player who missed the cut, you have to find someone to remove. There are only 24 spots in the All-Star lineup.

The complete All-Star roster is below. Who will be fired to make room for the snub?

Eastern Conference

(Bold beginning)

• Giannis AntetokounmpoF, Milwaukee Bucks

• Jaylen BrunsonG, New York Knicks

• Cade CunninghamG, Detroit Pistons

• Tyrese Maxey, G, Philadelphia 76ers

• Jaylen BrownF, Boston Celtics

• Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers

• Jaren Johnson, Atlanta Hawks

• Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks

• Pascal Siakam, Indiana Pacers

• Norman Powell, Miami Heat

• Scotty Barnes, Toronto Raptors

• Jaren Duren, Detroit Pistons

Western Conference

• Nikola JokicC, Denver Nuggets

• Luka DoncicF, Los Angeles Lakers

• Shai Gilgeous-AlexanderG, Oklahoma City Thunder

• Stephen CurryG, Golden State Warriors

• Victor VunbanyamaF, San Antonio Spurs

• Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves

• Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets

• Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City Thunder

• Kevin Durant, Houston Rockets

• Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns

• Deni Avdija, Portland Trail Blazers

• LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers

One or more of the guys considered snubbed may end up hearing his name called as an injury replacement. Antetokounmpo is dealing with a multi-week calf injury and will almost certainly not play in the All-Star game. Other injuries between now and February 15 could open up more roster spots.

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But at present, if the above eight players want to make the trip, they must participate in the All-Star Game as spectators.