In the recently announced 2024 NBA All-Star reserve selections, many names that were expected to be on the roster were there including Kawhi Leonard, , Jaylen Brunson, Tyrese Maxey, Anthony Davis, Anthony Edwards, and Steph Curry.

For the Eastern Conference, the starters include Tyrese Haliburton, Damian Lillard, Jayson Tatum, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Joel Embiid, with reserves Brunson, Maxey, Bam Adebayo, Paolo Banchero, Jaylen Brown, Donovan Mitchell, and Julius Randle. In the Western Conference, the starters are Luka Doncic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Nikola Jokic with reserves Davis, Edwards, Curry, Kawhi, Devin Booker, Paul George, and Karl-Anthony Towns.

There was rumblings that Curry might not make the team this year after not being voted in as a starter mostly due to the Warriors poor win/loss record, but we wouldn’t have place that bet. If you’re having concerns about the bets you make, BetZillion reviews every NBA bookmaker so give them a look.

If you’ve been following the NBA like we have, you know that when the reserves are named; it coincides with the players that didn’t make it. As true with every year, several notable players were left out, sparking internet debates about snubs and the need to expand All-Star rosters due to the NBA’s burgeoning talent pool.

The Biggest Snubs: Fox or Sabonis, Trae Young, Gobert?

Not to toot our own horns too much, but we got 21 of the 24 all-stars right in our too-early predictions from a month or so ago.

Among the biggest snubs, we predicted that De’Aaron Fox of the Sacramento Kings would make the team so that is a snub that really stands out. Some will say it’s Domantas Sabonis was the Sacramento King that deserved the spot, but we believe that Fox is the difference maker for that team. Yes, Sabonis is leading the league in rebounding and nearly averaging a triple-double, also raises questions about his exclusion, especially considering his team’s performance and his individual stats.

Fox’s numbers also impress with 27.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 1.6 steals per game, along with 38% three-point shooting, Fox was overlooked. The Kings, fifth in the West, perform significantly better with Fox on the court, as indicated by Cleaning the Glass stats.

Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks is one of the more notable snubs for the 2024 NBA All-Star Game. Despite having a statistically impressive season, with averages of 27 points and 11 assists per game, along with an improved 37% shooting from the three-point line, Young was not selected for the All-Star team. One of the main reasons for this exclusion seems to be his team’s performance. The Hawks were underperforming, being seven games under .500 at the time of the All-Star selections, which likely influenced the decision. The coaches and selectors often give weight to team success when choosing All-Stars, and Atlanta’s disappointing season might have played a significant role in Young not making the cut.

While I think that the coaches made the right decision by rewarding Towns with the second Minnesota slot, many believe Rudy Gobert of the Minnesota Timberwolves should have been the second representative after Anthony Edwards. You know who else believes Gobert is an all-star? Gobert himself.

Rudy Gobert said Karl-Anthony Towns called him after the All-Stars were announced and Gobert didn’t make it.

Gobert said he told Karl: “You don’t have to feel bad… At my Hall of Fame speech, I’ll be able to joke about how many times I got to enjoy some extra vacation because I… https://t.co/pyWQdgbUbb

— Dane Moore (@DaneMooreNBA) February 2, 2024

With Minnesota holding the league’s second-best record primarily due to their top-ranked defense, Gobert, the defensive anchor, arguably deserved a spot over teammate Towns.

Some Other All-Star Also-Rans

The Western Conference had a lot more notable snubs. Lauri Markkanen of the Utah Jazz and Alperen Sengun of the Houston Rockets were also left out despite impressive performances for teams battling for a playoff spot, highlighting the depth of talent in the league. Sengun in particular seems destined for multiple appearances.

It’s worth noting that despite being seventh in the West, there’s not one New Orleans Pelicans on the roster. It may have been the voters were divided between Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson and CJ McCollum.

James Harden of the Los Angeles Clippers has finally blended well with his team, shooting a career-high 41% in three-point shooting and significant contributions to the Clippers’ offense. Jamal Murray of the Denver Nuggets, yet to make an All-Star appearance, is another notable omission, but injuries are what is holding him back from being named the last few years. Despite scoring 21 points per game and a high three-point shooting percentage, Murray was overlooked for playing fewer games and not consistently showcasing superstar-level performances.

Both Kristaps Porzingis and Derrick White of the Boston Celtics have played significant roles for the Boston Celtics. You wouldn’t have gotten a lot of arguments from the media if either one was chosen as an alternative to teammate Jaylen Brown, given their contributions to the Celtics’ success.

Jarrett Allen of the Brooklyn Nets, Scottie Barnes of the Toronto Raptors and Myles Turner of the Indiana Pacers should also get a mention here.

With Randle and Embiid likely sitting out of the game, we think that Trae Young and Porzingis will both suit up in the midseason all-star game.