Every week throughout the 2024-25 NBA season, we will delve deeper into some of the league’s most compelling storylines to determine whether trends are based on fact or fiction moving forward.
Fact or Fiction: Domantas Sabonis is The Biggest Snub
What exactly constitutes a snub? A snub is when a player fails to receive recognition from the voting panel for the NBA All-Star Game.
While only a few might have caught that reference, the reality is that this season’s All-Star selections were particularly challenging for voters due to the abundance of talent in the league. With the announcement of the All-Star reserves by the NBA, the 24-player roster for this year’s All-Star Game in San Francisco was finalized, pending any injuries before Feb. 16.
EASTERN CONFERENCE: (starters in bold) Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks; Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics; Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks; Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons; Darius Garland, Cleveland Cavaliers; Tyler Herro, Miami Heat; Damian Lillard, Milwaukee Bucks; Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers; Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers; Pascal Siakam, Indiana Pacers; Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics; Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks
WESTERN CONFERENCE: Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors; Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers; Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns; Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves; Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder; James Harden, Los Angeles Clippers; Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis Grizzlies; LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers; Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets; Alperen Şengün, Houston Rockets; Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs; Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder
As expected, there were some notable snubs. However, it’s important to remember:
Once again, the golden rule stands:
If you’re pointing out who got snubbed, you’re essentially suggesting who shouldn’t be an All-Star?
— Vincent Goodwill (@VinceGoodwill) January 30, 2025
When determining The Biggest Snub, a tough decision must be made. Apologies, James Harden.
Allow me to explain. (Note: The number of games played does play a significant role, so apologies to Paolo Banchero, Luka Dončić, Joel Embiid, Ja Morant, and Franz Wagner, among others who fell short of the required games for consideration.)
The title of The Biggest Snub must go to a player from the Western Conference due to the sheer talent in that conference. A player like Herro wouldn’t have stood a chance on a .500 team from the West. He shouldn’t have been chosen over Trae Young in the Eastern Conference either. However, when identifying the most talented non-All-Star of the season – The Biggest Snub – the spotlight falls on the Western Conference. It’s not about Herro missing out on an All-Star spot over someone like Tyler Herro.
Instead, the real snub was Harden, who has been performing exceptionally well for the Los Angeles Clippers, a team that has exceeded expectations this season. However, Harden may not even be the most valuable player on his own team. Players like Norman Powell and Ivica Zubac, along with a healthy Kawhi Leonard, have made significant impacts, especially on the defensive end, where the Clippers rank second in the NBA, even with Harden on the roster. The team’s success isn’t solely attributed to their offense, which ranks outside the top 10.
Harden’s statistics – 21.7 points, 8.4 assists, and 5.8 rebounds per game – are impressive, but his shooting percentages are subpar, with a field goal percentage of 40% and a three-point percentage below the league average at 35.2%. Additionally, he leads the NBA in turnovers with 203.
It’s never easy to argue against a player, but per the rules, Harden’s case falls short.
Now, the moment of truth: The Biggest Snub of this year is not LaMelo Ball, Devin Booker, or Tyrese Maxey. It is Domantas Sabonis, son of Arvydas, the King of The Nail.
The decision came down to Sabonis and Kyrie Irving.
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Sabonis: 20.9 PTS (61/48/77), 14.5 REB, 6.6 AST (3.1 TO), 0.6 STL, 0.4 BLK; 68.0 TS%, 24.1 PER
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Irving: 24.2 PTS (48/42/90), 4.9 AST (2.3 TO), 4.6 REB, 1.2 STL, 0.3 BLK; 60.0 TS%, 19.8 PER
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Harden: 21.7 PTS (40/35/89), 8.4 AST (4.6 TO), 5.8 REB, 1.5 STL, 0.6 BLK; 57.3 TS%, 19.1 PER
Surprisingly, Sabonis emerges as the most efficient scorer among the three, leading the league in rebounding and averaging more assists per game than Irving, with a superior assist-to-turnover ratio compared to Harden.
Just one player in NBA history has averaged a 21-14-6 stat line: Wilt Chamberlain. That’s it.
With Sabonis also having played more games this season than both Irving and Harden, the impact he brings to the Sacramento Kings is undeniable. When Sabonis is on the court, the Kings are 14.9 points per 100 meaningful possessions better, ranking as the league’s fourth-best on/off rating among players with over 1,000 minutes, trailing only Jokić, Wembanyama, and Chris Paul.
Sacramento’s offensive rating reaches top-five levels when Sabonis is in action, contrasting with a bottom-two offense when he sits out. In comparison, the Mavericks are only 3.8 points better per 100 possessions with Irving on the court, while the Clippers see a modest 4.8-point improvement with Harden’s presence. Even when combining their on/off ratings, none match Sabonis’ impact.
While Sabonis may not steal the spotlight, his efficiency, passing, and rebounding prowess make a strong case for his All-Star selection. The evidence speaks for itself.
Conclusion: Fact. Domantas Sabonis deserves the title of The Biggest Snub in the 2025 NBA All-Star Game.