The unfortunate truth about the NBA All-Star Game is that not all players who are deserving of a spot can take part. Every year, there are a handful of stars who just barely make the cut, and every year, there is an outcry among fans — usually with legitimate gripes — regarding who should have made it instead.
Now that the All-Star pool has been announced, I’m highlighting five players who deserved a nod over their counterparts. There are more names that could be mentioned, but I’ll only be going over the most egregious exclusions.
Note: All NBA odds and are current as of Monday, Feb. 6, at 3 p.m. ET and courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook.
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2023 NBA All-Star Snubs
Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns
Replacing: Paul George, Los Angeles Clippers
The main argument to be made against Booker’s case is that he hasn’t played enough games to deserve a spot. And while he has missed 26 contests this season, there are players who made the roster — including Zion Williamson — who have appeared in just as many games as Booker has.
Booker was averaging a career-high 27.1 points per game before going down with a groin injury, tying him with Kyrie Irving for 11th place on the list of this year’s scoring leaders. His Suns have also tumbled down the standings without him in the lineup, signifying his importance and value to the team.
George, who made the roster ahead of Booker, has not been nearly as prolific a scorer, though he has appeared in more games. Still, George hasn’t even been the best player on his team this season, while Booker looked the part of an MVP candidate while he was healthy.
Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers
Replacing: Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis Grizzlies
Davis, like Booker, has also missed significant time this season. But despite the fact that he’s only appeared in 30 games, it’s hard to argue with the idea that Davis is having an All-Star-caliber campaign.
The 29-year-old is averaging 27.1 points — tying him with Irving and Booker for 11th in the league — while also hauling in a career-high 12.0 rebounds per game. Moreover, Davis is connecting on 57.5% of his attempts from the field this year, which is well above the previous career-high mark of 53.5% he set in 2014-15.
Jackson Jr. has only appeared in six more games than Davis has, and although he’s averaging more blocks per game than The Brow, he’s well behind him in virtually every other category. His Grizzlies have been much better than the Lakers this year, but his inclusion over Davis feels like the biggest head-scratcher.
Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
Replacing: Paul George, Los Angeles Clippers
I can understand why you might stick with George over Booker considering the latter’s extended absence, but sliding Edwards in over George is something that very few people would argue with.
The 21-year-old is having a spectacular year with the Timberwolves, averaging career-highs in points (24.7), rebounds (6.0), and assists (4.5) per game. He’s also notched career-high marks in field-goal percentage (46.1%) and three-point percentage (36.5%), and he hasn’t missed a single game this season.
Edwards has shouldered a heavy load this year, and he’s passed virtually every test with flying colors. His absence from the All-Star roster is almost inexplicable, though there’s a chance he could sneak in as an injury replacement with Stephen Curry likely to miss the event.
James Harden, Philadelphia 76ers
Replacing: Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers
I’m a big supporter of Haliburton, and I’m glad that he made the All-Star roster. That doesn’t mean there aren’t a few players I feel should’ve made it over him, though.
Harden is chief among them. The 33-year-old has appeared in seven fewer games than Haliburton, but he’s also averaging more points (21.0), rebounds (6.4), and assists (10.9).
Philadelphia has also been significantly better than Indiana this year, and Harden has put up massive numbers despite playing second fiddle to Joel Embiid. He doesn’t have the luxury of being the first option and usage leader like Haliburton does.
As an aside, should the 76ers keep up their winning ways, backing the 76ers to win the Eastern Conference at (+450) odds is one of the best NBA bets you can make today.
Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks
Replacing: Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers
You could argue that Brunson is more important to the Knicks than Julius Randle, though both have had All-Star-worthy seasons. Therefore, bumping Haliburton and replacing him with Brunson feels like another worthwhile alteration.
The 26-year-old guard is averaging career-highs in both points (23.1) and assists (6.2), and the Knicks have been in the thick of the playoff hunt virtually all year. Brunson’s ability to get going in an instant has also led to him turning in 12 performances with at least 30 points this season, including two with 40-plus.
Those performances have to count for something. It’s a shame that he didn’t get the nod this time around.
NBA All-Stars 2023
Eastern Conference All-Star Pool
- Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat
- Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
- Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics
- DeMar DeRozan, Chicago Bulls
- Kevin Durant, Brooklyn Nets
- Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
- Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers
- Jrue Holiday, Milwaukee Bucks
- Kyrie Irving, Dallas Mavericks (Traded from Brooklyn Nets)
- Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers
- Julius Randle, New York Knicks
- Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
Western Conference All-Star Pool
- Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
- Luka Dončić, Dallas Mavericks
- Paul George, Los Angeles Clippers
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
- Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis Grizzlies
- LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
- Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets
- Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers
- Lauri Markkanen, Utah Jazz
- Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies
- Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings
- Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans
