The 2025-26 NBA All-Star reserves were announced, but with that comes the NBA All-Star snubs. This year, the game is a bit different as there will be 16 American players and eight international players selected. Let’s take a closer look at some snubs after people not being picked for the All-Star Game.
Who are the biggest NBA All-Star snubs this season?
Kawhi Leonard
Kawhi Leonard is arguably the biggest NBA All-Star snub this season, especially with the All-Star Game being played at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. If this is because of the investigation into his being paid outside of what the league allows, that is one thing. However, Leonard has been one of the hottest players since Christmas and is currently seventh in scoring.
Leonard is averaging 27.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 0.6 blocks, and 2.1 steals in 33.0 minutes. He’s also shooting 49.6% from the floor, 39.5% from beyond the arc, and 93.6% from the free-throw line. With him and James Harden not being selected, it’s a bit weird to see no representation for the Clippers.
Joel Embiid
Joel Embiid has been unable to play at an MVP level, but he is still producing at a solid level to the point that he should have made the NBA All-Star team. Especially with how this year’s game is formatted, he should be one of the international players. Embiid has battled through injuries, but the 76ers are a strong team, and Embiid has been playing well in the month of January.
Embiid has played in 28 games and is averaging 26.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.1 blocks, and 0.9 steals in 31.0 minutes per game. He is also posting a 49.0/29.7/85.0 shooting split. However, he is averaging 32.4 points in his last eight games to prove how well he is playing right now, making him being an All-Star snub even more surprising.
Michael Porter Jr
Even though the Brooklyn Nets are struggling this season, Michael Porter Jr is playing at an unbelievable level. He has been able to really take that step as the best player on a team after being traded from the Denver Nuggets during the offseason. With the ability he has shown and being one of the top shooters from beyond the arc, it is surprising not see him with the numbers he has posted to be an NBA All-Star snub.
Porter Jr has played in 38 games and is averaging 25.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 0.3 blocks, and 1.1 steals in 33.1 minutes per game. He’s shooting the ball well as he is connecting on 48.2% of his shots, 39.8% from beyond the arc, and 85.1% from the charity stripe.
