The 2026 NBA All-Star Game is only a couple of weeks away, and fans are hyped up to see their favorite stars compete in the special event. While all the members of the 2026 NBA All-Star roster are deserving, some could be argued to have been snubbed from the lineup.
Like all other All-Star selections from previous years, many names have been left out due to either technicalities or injuries. The question now is, who are the top names who didn’t make the cut this season?
Who Were the Major NBA All-Star Omissions?
Kawhi Leonard
One of the biggest names on this list is arguably Kawhi Leonard. This year, the All-Star Game will be held at the Intuit Dome, home of the Los Angeles Clippers. With that in mind, it feels weird not to see a Clippers player represent their team at the event.
Leonard has been superb this season, averaging 27.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. While there’s no denying Leonard’s remarkable talent, the Clippers’ struggles this season have likely hurt his chances of being considered an All-Star.
James Harden
Another Clippers player on this list is James Harden. Next to Leonard, Harden is the Clippers’ second-best player and has done everything in his power to help his duo climb from the depths of the Western Conference ladder.
The Clippers went from the bottom 15 up to 10th place in the West as of this February. This is all thanks to Harden and Leonard’s efforts. Unfortunately, just as Leonard’s struggles did, the Clippers’ struggles for most of the season likely led to Harden not being considered an All-Star this year.
Alperen Şengün
Last season, Alperen Şengün made his presence felt, carrying the Houston Rockets to the second seed in the 2025 NBA Playoffs. Because of his impressive showing as a leader last year, he earned his first All-Star nod.
This year, Şengün looks more dominant than ever, improving his numbers to 21.0 points, 6.4 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. Despite the Turkish star’s evolution on the hardwood, he was snubbed from the All-Star roster this year.
This is likely due to Kevin Durant being in the lineup now. While one can argue that Durant can’t lead the Rockets without Şengün by his side, there’s no denying the star power of the 18-year veteran. Having said that, KD hoarded all the votes, leaving Şengün in the shadows.
Brandon Ingram
If anyone is truly deserving of being an All-Star this season, it’s arguably Brandon Ingram. Since getting traded to the Toronto Raptors, Ingram has proven to everyone that he is still very much capable of leading his team to success.
After the Raptors have missed the playoffs in the last three seasons, Ingram’s arrival has given Toronto fans new hope as they look to be playoff contenders this year. The Raptors are currently in fourth place in the Eastern Conference. A huge improvement compared to their 11th-place finish last season.
Ingram is averaging 21.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists, .8 blocks, and .8 steals while shooting 47.2% from the field, 36.1% from 3, and 83.3% from the charity stripe.
Austin Reaves
Now playing in his fifth NBA season, Austin Reaves has arguably tapped into his full potential. Earlier this season, Reaves proved to be a force to be reckoned with in the league as he helped Luka Dončić carry the Los Angeles Lakers in the absence of LeBron James.
Both Dončić and Reaves led the Lakers to a strong start, placing second in the Western Conference for a significant period. Looking at AR’s numbers this season, he’s averaging career highs of 26.6 points, 6.3 assists, and 5.2 rebounds.
Unfortunately for him, Reaves was taken out of the Lakers’ lineup in December due to a grade two calf strain. Missing 18 consecutive games thus far has hurt his chances of securing a spot in the All-Star reserves this year.
The All-Star game tips off on Feb. 15 at the Intuit Dome, featuring a headline roster led by starters Dončić and Victor Wembanyama alongside reserves like Durant and James.
