The announcement of the 2024 NBA All-Star reserves contained few players who rightfully should have received spots. Whenever the selection process occurs it generates controversy yet some player exclusions leave strong resentment among fans. The biggest error in choosing All-Star reserves occurred when they left out Domantas Sabonis for the Sacramento Kings. The All-Star selectors deducted points from both LaMelo Ball and Trae Young because their teams experienced poor performances.
Sabonis deserved a spot—no question.
The All-Star selection excluded Sabonis in the most apparent way. The Sacramento Kings currently reach the playoffs region mostly because of Sabonis who maintains vast statistical averages of **20.1 points 12.5 rebounds and 7.8 assists** while leading his team. He leads the league in both rebounding and passing along with exceptional field goal efficiency which makes him assertedly the most influential big in all of basketball.
Western Conference reserve Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns find themselves second to Sabonis in assists rebounds and offensive abilities. The Kings’ victories would suffer from an oversight if Sabonis were excluded from the All-Star selection process since he remains the critical reason behind their success.
LaMelo Ball, Trae Young Penalized for Team Records
Their All-Star performances did not lead to All-Star nominations due to their struggling teams with losing records.
The Charlotte Hornets representation LaMelo Ball has established himself as a top player despite a limited game schedule because he averages 24.7 points, 8.2 assists and 5.5 rebounds along with 39% accuracy from beyond the arc. Although his offensive production is exceptional with big scoring abilities Ball has put his team in the East Conference cellar.
Trae Young continues to prove himself as a top point guard who leads the league with 27.3 points and 10.9 assists on a per-game basis for the Atlanta Hawks. The Atlanta Hawks missed a.500 season even though Young maintained one of the best shooting performances which led to his candidacy being displaced by the breakout seasons of Jalen Brunson and Tyrese Haliburton in the Eastern Conference point guard play.
Other notable snubs
James Harden from the Clippers showcases impressive playmaking stats but his individual performance criteria remain insufficient for the All-Star selection.
His season leadership of the Magic appeared sufficient to win him all-star status yet Orlando’s games receive little national TV coverage likely led to his denial.
Despite his impressive play for the Thunder Jalen Williams would miss the All-Star selection because the Western Conference is exceptionally deep.
Every All-Star season brings significant criticism of players omitted from the selection; this edition follows that pattern. Team success remains influential in the voting process since both Young and Ball failed to earn a spot despite Sabonis’s omissions being a bigger surprise. The injured players have not come out yet which gives opportunities to the previously excluded players but for today they demonstrate that NBA voters got it wrong.
