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NBA All-Star snubs: How did LeBron James make it over Kawhi Leonard, others?

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You’ve likely heard that the NBA All-Star Game format is different this season as commissioner Adam Silver continues trying to scrape up interest in a game none of the players take even remotely seriously. So this year, instead of West vs. East or squads chosen by captains, it’s going to be USA vs. the World with three teams of eight (two American and one World) for a total of 24 players competing in round-robin tournament. 

The 10 starters were announced two weeks ago, and on Sunday night the seven reserves from each conference, which were voted on by the coaches, were revealed. Here are the full teams.

I came into this fully prepared to be made about some particular exclusions, but the coaches did the right thing and put both Avdija and Powell in. I didn’t think they would. I’m not surprised at LeBron getting in, and if you’re on Team Lifetime Achievement, that’s cool. I’m not. All four of the guys below, at least, should have gotten in over him. 

Western Conference snubs

Kawhi Leonard, Clippers

Leonard is having a career season for a Clippers team that has been bulldozing teams for the last two months. His 27.7 PPG is a career high. He’s on track to join the ultra exclusive 50/40/90 shooting club. His 94% clip at the free-throw line leads the league, as do his 2.1 steals per game. The side by side vs. LeBron isn’t even close. 

Kawhi, of course, is still the subject of an ongoing NBA investigation into potential salary cap manipulation against the Clippers. 

Still, this exclusion is egregious. Kawhi is having an extraordinary season. If it’s close, fine, give LeBron the benefit of the doubt. But this isn’t close. I’m with Ty Lue on this.

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Alperen Sengun, Rockets

Sengun is one of three players in the league averaging at least 20 points, nine rebounds and six assists. The other two are Nikola Jokić (best player on the planet) and Jalen Johnson (All-Star). Houston is one of the best teams in the league and only Durant gets in? 

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Frankly, you could make a very strong case that they should have gotten three guys in; Amen Thompson is an All-Star in his sleep in the East and for my money should be in over LeBron for sure and arguably Holmgren in the West, although OKC definitely deserves two nods before Houston deserves three. 

Either way, Sengun should be in. If Kawhi should be taking LeBron’s place, then Sengun takes either Murray or Booker. Murray is having an extraordinary season and has long deserved his first selection, but if we’re not playing the “he’s earned it card” with LeBron, then has he really been better than Sengun? That’s close. If I absolutely had to make a call, I’d have Sengun in over Booker. 

James Harden, Clippers

I’ll agree that the Clippers shouldn’t get two All-Stars when they’re clinging to a play-in spot, and Leonard is the biggest snub. But Harden has to be mentioned here. Another victim of playing in the West, Harden isn’t shooting very efficiently but is the driver of what has been the league’s fifth-best offense over the last two months. 

I would obviously have Harden in on pure merit over LeBron, but to be fair, if we’re holding LeBron’s defense against him (which I am) then Harden doesn’t pass that test either. But the offense has been way better. 

Lauri Markkanen, Jazz

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Only in this Western Conference can a seven-footer averaging 27 and 7 not be an All-Star. Again, it’s not a debate against LeBron. Markannen got snubbed (as did his teammate, Keyonte George, but we can only pick one Jazz guy and Markannen is the one). 

I know I’ve mentioned Holmgren a few times as a guy a couple of these snubs have a case against, and it’s not that I don’t view Holmgren as an All-Star. He clearly is. His defense matters tremendously in an argument with a Markannen supporter. And the Thunder are the best team. 

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The truth is the NBA should get rid of the conference requirement in the voting since conferences aren’t even part of the actual game. All of these West guys would be in if we didn’t have to pick seven East guys (no disrespect to Pascal Siakam or Norm Powell or Karl-Anthony Towns). 

But even in the current structure, a 27 and 7 player like Markannen not being an All-Star is pretty crazy.

Eastern Conference Snubs

Michael Porter Jr., Nets

Porter has completely reinvented himself as a bonafide go-to scorer and All-Star player in Brooklyn. He is a real delight as one of the few go-to guys operating almost exclusively off the ball, a Reggie Miller type that almost doesn’t exist anymore. Take a look at this. 

Porter is averaging more points, rebounds and assists than Powell on higher shooting percentages. 

I love Powell. I’m glad he’s in. I would have MPJ in over Towns. 

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Joel Embiid, 76ers

I’m going to include Embiid here because there was a lot of talk about him getting in, but I think the coaches got this one right. Yes, he’s been pretty dominant for a good while now and the Sixers are almost 10 points per 100 possessions better with him on the court, per CTG, but he started out rough and has ultimately only played in 28 games. That means about 20 of them have been truly All-Star level. If you think he should be in over Towns, who is having the worst shooting season of his career, I won’t argue with you. But I’m fine with him being left off. 

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Great team with a great history

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Karim Benzema has likened his new team, Al-Hilal, to his former employers, Real Madrid, saying the Saudi Pro League side reminds him of Los Blancos in terms of rich history.

The Frenchman on Monday completed a shock deadline day move from Al-Ittihad to Al-Hilal on a free transfer. Benzema’s contract with Al-Ittihad was due to run out in June, but negotiations over renewal collapsed, and Al-Hilal took full advantage of the situation, signing the 38-year-old on a one-and-a-half-year deal.

Speaking to Al-Hilal media after his first training session in the blue jersey, Benzema was asked what he knows about the club.

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“It’s a great team with a great history,” he said. “They won a lot of trophies. It’s like similar, like Real Madrid here in Asia, you know. Everything is good, the fans are good, they play well, they have good players, and they have a good mentality, they have a good process. So I liked this team before, I used to play against them with Madrid, it was not an easy game, it was a good game, so I have good memories, and today I’m happy because now I’m playing for Al-Hilal.”

Al-Hilal and Real Madrid share the same history as the most successful team in their respective division. The Blue Waves are Saudi Arabia’s most successful team, with 21 league titles and four Asian Championships. Similarly, Los Blancos have won the most league titles in the Spanish division, winning it a record 36 times.

The 2022 Ballon d’Or winner guided Al-Ittihad to the league and King’s Cup glory last season. With Al-Hilal sitting atop the league table, they will be keen to leverage the forward’s experience to guide them to their 22nd league title.

Karim Benzema hungry for more silverware after Al-Hilal switch

Amid the controversy surrounding his move to Al-Hilal, Karim Benzema expressed his desire to win more trophies with the Riyadh-based club. Joining Al-Ittihad in 2023, Benzema went trophyless in his debut season but responded with a domestic double in his second campaign.

Regarding his ambitions at Al-Hilal, the 38-year-old stated:

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“Clear message, you know, my mentality. I have a lot of ambition. I will work, I will give everything in the pitch, I will help this team, and Inshallah bring trophies, because for me it’s more important to bring trophies, and we have, what I said before, good team, good fans, so together, Inshallah, we will do it.”

The striker has scored eight goals in 14 league appearances this season and is expected to make his Al-Hilal debut on Thursday against Al Okhdood.