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The biggest 2025 NBA All-Star snubs

frank urbina

Thu, 30 Jan 2025, 7:13 pm

Jan 22, 2025; Sacramento, California, USA; Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis (11) drives to the basket against Golden State Warriors guard Dennis Schroder (71) during the second quarter at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images

2024-25 was not a particularly egregious year for All-Star snubs, at least not outside a couple of cases.

Even so, with the NBA as talented as it is these days, there were still some very high-level players who failed to earn All-Star honors this year. Those players deserve to get some sort of mention, so we are going to shout them out below.

Here, we present the biggest All-Star snubs for the 2024-25 season. Included in this list is the league leader in nightly assists, as well as the league leader in nightly rebounds, as well as a player putting up a historic 28/5/7 stat line.

Domantas Sabonis (Sacramento)

Jan 14, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Sacramento Kings center Domantas Sabonis (11) controls the ball as Milwaukee Bucks forward Andre Jackson Jr. (44) in the second quarter at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

2024-25 stats: 20.9 ppg, 14.5 rpg, 6.6 apg, 61.0 FG%

Global rating ranking: 21.04 (10th overall)

Leading the league in nightly rebounds for the third year in a row while averaging a career-high in points per game, Sacramento's Domantas Sabonis was a shocking All-Star omission this season, the second year in a row the big man has been snubbed for the honor.

Sabonis is a Diet Nikola Jokic, a center with elite playmaking skills and high-level scoring chops. His defense is a sour point and maybe NBA coaches think about that while deciding All-Star reserves but even then, it seems harsh for a player putting up a 20/13/7 stat line on 60-plus percent shooting over a three-year span to make just one All-Star appearance in that stretch. Sabonis might have better All-Star luck in the East.

Devin Booker (Phoenix)

Jan 27, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) passes against the LA Clippers during the second half at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

2024-25 stats: 25.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 6.7 apg, 1.2 spg, 44.4 FG%

Global rating ranking: 19.25 (20th overall)

Devin Booker's bid for a fifth career All-Star appearance was pretty much doomed early on this season, between him missing a bit of time due to injury and getting off to a slow start to the year, likely in part due to Olympic fatigue, Booker's numbers early on in 2024-25 were both unlike him and not worthy of an All-Star spot, especially in the loaded West.

Phoenix, being an inconsistent mess as a team, has likewise not helped his cause. Even so, the former Kentucky standout has really gotten hot of late, looking more like his usual self. Roughly over the last month (since Jan. 7), Booker is averaging nearly 30 points per game to go with four-plus rebounds, almost seven assists and a steal-and-a-half per game on 49 percent shooting from the floor.

All-Star is obviously now out of the question but if Booker can keep up his recent form, he might have a shot at making a second straight All-NBA appearance.

Jarrett Allen (Cleveland)

WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 26: Jarrett Allen #31 of the Cleveland Cavaliers dunks the ball against the Washington Wizards during the first half at Capital One Arena on October 26, 2024 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

2024-25 stats: 13.8 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 1.9 apg, 1.0 spg, 70.3 FG%

Global rating ranking: 19.65 (16th overall)

His numbers may be mundane, posting roughly a 14 and 10 average with merely one block per game, but Jarrett Allen's field-goal percentage is astronomical at roughly 70 percent. That, plus Cleveland's excellent regular season thus far, led some to think Allen might have snuck into All-Star honors this year.

That was ultimately not the case, however, although we're sure Allen will be just fine with the extra vacation time. Overall, Allen has been fantastic this season for the Cavaliers, acclimating wonderfully in first-year Cleveland head coach Kenny Atkinson's non-stop-cutting offensive system. Allen ranks in the NBA's 87th percentile this season in points produced out of the pick-and-roll at 1.3-plus PPP (points per possession) on the play type.

De'Aaron Fox (Sacramento)

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 21: De'Aaron Fox #5 of the Sacramento Kings reacts after there was a no foul call on a play against the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half at Golden 1 Center on December 21, 2024 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

2024-25 stats: 25.1 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 6.2 apg, 1.5 spg, 46.8 FG%

Global rating ranking: 18.43 (26th overall)

The new most bandied-about name on the NBA trade market, Sacramento Kings guard De'Aaron Fox was snubbed of All-Star honors despite averaging roughly 25 points, five rebounds and six assists so far this season. This is now the second year in a row in which Fox has missed out on the honor.

Fox is another player who just has the bad luck of playing in the Western Conference. If he were to play in the East, he'd likely have more than one All-Star appearance on his resume by now, as the explosive point guard is one of the most productive lead guards in the league right now.

Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana)

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - JANUARY 16: Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers reacts while playing the Detroit Pistons during the second half at Little Caesars Arena on January 16, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. Indiana won the game 111-100. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

2024-25 stats: 18.3 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 8.6 apg, 1.2 spg, 45.4 FG%

Global rating ranking: 20.06 (15th overall)

After making All-Star appearances in each of the past two seasons, Tyrese Haliburton missed out on the honor this year. Haliburton's numbers are down across the board, as the point guard is averaging fewer points, rebounds and assists in 2024-25 than he has in either of the past two campaigns. Perhaps Haliburton is also experiencing a bit of an Olympic hangover, although he didn't get many minutes for Team USA in Paris.

In more promising news for Indiana fans, Haliburton has looked more like his old self of late, with the crafty playmaker shooting over 44 percent from three since Jan. 2, a stretch in which the Pacers have looked more like the team that made the Eastern Conference Finals run last season, with Indiana 10-2 in its last 12 games.

Zach LaVine (Chicago)

2024-25 stats: 24.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 4.5 apg, 44.6 3PT%

Global rating ranking: 16.19 (37th overall)

Fifth in the league in three-point percentage so far this season, Chicago Bulls 2-guard Zach LaVine has played like an All-Star in 2024-25, posting an impressive 24/4/4 stat line while hitting triples at an elite rate.

LaVine has looked more like his old explosive self this campaign, providing three-level scoring to Chicago along with solid rebounding and playmaking from the shooting guard spot.

The Bulls' 20-28 record probably had a lot to do with LaVine missing out on a potential third All-Star appearance this year.

Kyrie Irving (Dallas)

Dec 25, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) brings the ball up court against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the second half at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

2024-25 stats: 24.2 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 4.9 apg, 1.2 spg, 41.9 3PT%

Global rating ranking: 15.26 (45th overall)

Despite nearing 33 years of age and with 13 seasons' worth of NBA experience (and tread), 2016 champion Kyrie Irving has maintained his status as one of the guards in the NBA this season.

Putting up over 24 points, four rebounds and four assists per game, Irving has done great work on the offensive end to keep the Dallas Mavericks afloat during Luka Doncic's recent extended injury absence. Dallas remains eighth in the West with a 26-22 record despite a plethora of injuries to the Mavericks' roster and Irving does a lot of the credit for that.

Even so, Irving was snubbed of All-Star honors for 2024-25, the second year in a row the former Duke standout failed to earn the accolade despite putting up impressive marks as a Maverick.

Ja Morant (Memphis)

Jan 15, 2025; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) reacts after scoring a three point basket during the second half at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images

2024-25 stats: 20.3 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 7.5 apg, 1.3 spg, 44.5 FG%

Global rating ranking: 10.35 (90th overall)

On one hand, Ja Morant is one of the best players on a team, the Memphis Grizzlies, that ranks Top 5 in net rating at the midpoint of the season, and one of the most exciting point guards in the league in general. On the other, the advanced stats agree with him getting snubbed for All-Star honors, as our own Global Rating metric has him barely among the Top 100 players in the league this season.

Morant remains one of the most explosive players in the NBA, he just hasn't been all that efficient this season (he's at a paltry 30.6 percent from three on the campaign) and he's no longer Memphis' best player, with that honor now clearly belonging to Jaren Jackson Jr., who did earn All-Star this year.

Regardless, at the end of the day, Morant is pretty much playing like a star for Memphis, which is what's most important.

LaMelo Ball (Charlotte)

Jan 12, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (1) passes the ball past Phoenix Suns center Oso Ighodaro (4) during the second half at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

2024-25 stats: 28.2 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 7.3 apg, 1.4 spg, 41.9 FG%

Global rating ranking: 13.35 (57th overall)

Probably not the biggest snub considering he's injured and the Charlotte Hornets are one of the worst teams in the league (they sit at 12-32 at the time of his writing), LaMelo Ball still deserves mention here, especially considering it's not every day a player averaging over 28 points and seven assists per game fails to earn All-Star honors.

Still, as we said, Ball's the best player for a very bad basketball team, his efficiency (33.7 percent on over 12 nightly threes) is quite poor and his play, even prior to the ankle injury he recently suffered, was regressing a bit, with Ball averaging just 24.2 points on 40.1 percent shooting over his last 13 appearances.

Of note, Ball is one of just 11 players ever to average a 28/5/7 stat line in a single season, and the rest of the list is all Hall of Famers or future Hall of Famers like Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, LeBron James, James Harden and Russell Westbrook.

Ball is a bit of an enigma.

Trae Young (Atlanta)

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JANUARY 09: Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks talks with head coach Quin Snyder during the first half of the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center on January 09, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

2024-25 stats: 22.7 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 11.4 apg, 1.3 spg, 40.2 FG%

Global rating ranking: 16.93 (33rd overall)

Despite leading the entire NBA in nightly assists, Atlanta's Trae Young was snubbed of All-Star honors this season. The same happened to Young last season before he was added as a late injury-related addition, though it seems unlikely Young will enjoy the same fortune this year.

Going against Young this year is his poor efficiency (he's shooting just 34.2 percent from three) and Atlanta's 22-25 record. It's becoming pretty clear that if Young is your team's best player, your team will probably be average at best, and All-Star voting this year reflected that.

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: The biggest 2025 NBA All-Star snubs