The NBA All-Star Game is an annual event where some of the league’s best stars are in action. In the past, it was players like Earvin “Magic” Johnson and Michael Jordan in action, and today, players like Stephen Curry and Nikola Jokić.
While the game has had its share of criticism in recent years, it is still a fun event. This year’s game will be no exception.
On Monday, the All-Star starters were announced, and some of the league’s best players received the honor. Giannis Antetokounmpo will be in action, and he will be joined by Jaylen Brown, Cade Cunningham, Jalen Brunson and Tyrese Maxey. Antetokounmpo led the East in fan voting, and he was second in player votes and fifth in media votes.
The Western Conference will be represented by Luka Dončić, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokić, Victor Wembanyama and Curry. This is a talented group, and when it comes to fan votes, Dončić was the leader.
Another year, another snub
While this is a good group, there are always going to be snubs. There are players who deserved to be starters, but things did not go in their favor.
One of the biggest snubs in the Eastern Conference is Donovan Mitchell. Mitchell is having a strong season, as he is averaging a career-high 29.0 points. He is seventh in the league scoring-wise, and outside of Maxey and Brown, no one in the East is outscoring him.
Mitchell is also shooting 38.4 percent from beyond the arc. The Cleveland Cavaliers star has knocked down 153 3-pointers, which puts him right behind Curry. The Golden State Warriors star has 154 3-pointers.
Cleveland’s star is playing at a high level, and he is contributing in other areas, as he averages 5.7 assists and 4.8 rebounds.
Cleveland gets off to a slow start
One of the things that hurt Mitchell’s chances is Cleveland’s season. The Cavaliers came into the season with high expectations, but things have not gone as planned. They had an excellent 2024-25 season, as they finished that year with a record of 64-18. It was a historic season, as it was their first time they had 60 or more wins since the 2009-10 season.
The Cavaliers have had a hard time, as they deal with injuries. It has impacted their consistency, and they cannot get into a rhythm. Their Eastern Conference rivals are taking advantage of that, and now, teams like the Detroit Pistons, the New York Knicks and the Toronto Raptors are taking advantage.
Mitchell is one of the most notable snubs, and others like Karl-Anthony Towns and Brandon Ingram have cases. These players will likely be reserves, but in Mitchell’s case, he deserved a spot in the starting lineup.
As far as the Western Conference, players like Anthony Edwards and Deni Avdija had cases. Edwards is having a big year, and recently, he had his career high. He had 55 points against the San Antonio Spurs, and San Antonio won a close game.
When it comes to Avdija, he is having an incredible year. He is averaging a career-high 26.2 points, and the Portland Trail Blazers are having a solid year. They are on a three-game winning streak, and they have a record of 22-22.
This year’s All-Star Game will be interesting, as it will be the debut of the USA vs World format. Curry, Dončić and others will be in action, and eventually, some of the snubs may join them.
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