It’s All-Star season in the NBA and with that comes many different reactions from the fans and players. Whether it’s players making headlines of Lebron James being selected for his 21st NBA All-Star game or a player like Cade Cunningham reaching a lifetime goal of becoming an NBA All-Star for the first time.

With all of these exceptional achievements comes the drama of players that have been “snubbed” from the game.

With that being said we’re going to be going over and recognizing the extraordinary seasons of some players who may have deserved to be a part of the 2025 NBA All-Star Game in San Francisco.

Trae Young, Guard, Atlanta Hawks
If you have been following the NBA for some time you would know that this is no surprise. Trae Young over the years has proven to be one of the best guards in the league and yet only has three all star appearances over his seven years in the league.

Some would argue that the 2025 season has been his best yet. Young leads the league in assists per game with 11.5, while also averaging just under 23 points per game.

Games played: 45

LaMelo Ball, Guard, Charlotte Hornets
Charlotte isn’t necessarily having the season they would like, only having 12 wins thus far. This could be a main reason for Ball not sneaking into the All-Star Game this year but you would be wrong to not acknowledge the season this young star has had to this point.

LaMelo Ball, who already has made an All-Star appearance, may just be having his best season yet. Ball is averaging 28 points per game while also tallying seven assists per game and five rebounds per game. His shooting splits are slightly lower this year but that also comes from his high usage rate on a below-average NBA roster down in Charlotte.

Games played: 31

Tyrese Maxey, Guard, Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia has been through about everything this year. They’ve been dealing with another season of not knowing when Joel Embiid is playing, signing a third star in Paul George who is averaging only 17 points per game, you name it. It’s been a struggle for the highly anticipated team in Philly but one person has been consistent for them, and that’s Tyrese Maxey.

Maxey is averaging almost 28 points per game, while also pitching in six assists per game. Maxey has really escalated his game and turned into a true leader for the 76ers.

Games played: 40

Devin Booker, Guard, Phoenix Suns
The 2024 Olympics shined much light on Devin Booker last summer. He was known as the key role player on the team, even though he is an All-NBA caliber player. His fan base has definitely grown following the Olympics and it’s safe to say that many were disappointed to not see Booker on the All-Star team this year.

Booker is averaging 26 points and seven assists per game. Given that his teammate Kevin Durant is an All-Star starter this year and has somewhat similar stats to Booker, it’s surprising to not see him a part of the game this year.

Games played: 43

Kyrie Irving, Guard, Dallas Mavericks
Dallas has been an interesting team in the west considering they’re just above .500 and sitting at ninth in the west after coming off a finals appearance just last season. Luka Dončić has only played 22 games and just got shipped over to LA in what was probably the craziest trade in NBA history. Through all of this, Kyrie has been the guy for them and has kept this Mavs team in playoff contention.

Kyrie is having an outstanding season and he’s reviving his career back to a true piece to a championship contender. Irving is averaging 24 points and just about both five rebounds and assists per game. The most impressive part about this season is that Kyrie is doing this on almost a 50/40/90 split.

Games played: 39

De’Aaron Fox, Guard, San Antonio Spurs
Fox has been a great player in this league for years and is always a bubble player when it comes to being an all-star. Being in a small market in Sacramento he tends to be left in the shadows and doesn’t always get the praise he deserves. Now that Fox has ended up in San Antonio right before the trade deadline, it’ll be interesting to see the trajectory of his career for years to come.

Fox is averaging 25 points, six assists and five rebound per game. Fox has been able to continue to grow as a player even with the Kings adding DeMar DeRozen over the offseason.

Games played: 45

Domantas Sabonis, Forward, Sacramento Kings
This may have been the biggest shocker when it comes to all-star subs this season. For someone who is the rebound leader and a complete game changer for this Sacramento Kings team, to not make the all-star game is pretty mind-boggling.

Sabonis is averaging 21 points per game while averaging about 14.5 rebounds each game. He’s also shown his ability to play-make this season, tacking on six and a half assists each night, which is another step in his development as a star in this league.

Games played: 45

All stats are from Basketball Reference as of Feb 3

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