While this year’s NBA All-Star reserve selections sparked widespread backlash among fans, players, and analysts alike, perhaps no one was more displeased than Washington Wizards icon Gilbert Arenas.
Upon Sunday’s announcement, the three-time All-Star took to social media to call out NBA coaches’ voting decisions, questioning the logic behind leaving out many of the league’s premier offensive stars.
Gilbert Arenas Highlights Biggest ‘Problem’ With All-Star Game in Fiery Rant on Reserve Snubs
As is the case most seasons, several deserving players didn’t hear their names called during Sunday’s All-Star reserve announcements. However, a few omissions, in particular, caused a major stir, most notably Kawhi Leonard, who was overlooked despite his career-best 27.6-point-per-game scoring average for the resurgent Los Angeles Clippers.
According to Arenas, the biggest “problem” with the All-Star Game boils down to coaches failing to recognize what types of players are supposed to participate in the league’s annual talent showcase.
“And they wonder why they’re having a problem with the All-Star Game,” Arenas began. “The All-Star Game is the best 24 players in the world! Some of these guys aren’t even the best player on their team, and they’re at this game with these numbers.”
After claiming that All-Star teams should primarily be comprised of top-tier scoring options, the 44-year-old indirectly took aim at one reserve selection from a losing team.
“Someone has 13 wins here. 13 wins is cool if you’re averaging 40 [ppg]. But if you’re having a regular-a** year, everybody’s gone, and you’re averaging 23 [ppg]?” Arenas pointed out, alluding to Pascal Siakam being awarded an All-Star nod for averaging 23.8 ppg for the Eastern Conference-worst 13-36 Indiana Pacers.
Arenas then shifted his ire toward this season’s NBA Defensive Player of the Year frontrunner, Chet Holmgren, questioning the extent of the first-time All-Star’s impact on the league-best Oklahoma City Thunder (39-11).
“One guy’s a third option on his team. I don’t give a f**k if your team’s No. 1, it’s not because of you,” Arenas asserted. “Nobody’s scouting you. And you wonder why people don’t play hard, because they’re not playing against the guys they compete with.”
Gilbert Arenas sounds off on this year’s NBA All-Star reserve selections. pic.twitter.com/SIMrSdbMw0
— StatHunter (@stat_hunter) February 2, 2026
As for Arenas’ biggest snubs, he named Leonard and his Clippers co-star James Harden, as well as the Toronto Raptors’ Brandon Ingram, the top scorer (21.9 ppg) on one of the NBA’s most surprising teams.
“Kawhi Leonard, huh? Nope. Having an amazing year. James Harden? Nope. I mean, some of these names. F**king Ingram! Ingram!” Arenas griped.
The three-time All-NBA selectee also joked in his caption that he would “rather watch” a “one-legged [Joel] Embiid” than “HALF this list” of reserves.
Arenas’ unfiltered rant will likely only add fuel to the seemingly never-ending debate about what constitutes an All-Star and what criteria should be prioritized when coaches submit their reserve ballots.
