2026 NBA All-Star Reserves Announced

One of my favorite parts of the NBA season is the unveiling of the full NBA All-Star rosters. The starters are generally predictable, but there are usually a handful of controversial reserve selections, primarily because of who gets snubbed as a result. This year was no different. Acknowledging the inevitable controversy, I absolutely love seeing first-time All-Stars get the official assertion as top players in the league, because it's incredibly difficult to reach that status. There were five first-time selections who I was particularly excited to see get picked to make the trip to LA this year.

Starting off in Detroit, because I'm biased, I can't put into words how thrilled I am to see Jalen Duren as part of this year's All-Star roster. He's been the perfect complement to Cade Cunnigham's playmaking and is debatably the most dangerous lob threat in the NBA. He's averaging nearly 18 points and 11 rebounds per game, which has helped guide the Pistons to a 36-12 record, and he's been Detroit's best player in a considerable number of games this season. As a fan, to finally get validation that JD is recognized as one of the best big men in the league is something I've hoped for since we drafted him nearly four years ago. I doubt this will be his last selection.

Deni Avdija, who's averaging 25 points, 7 assists, and 7 rebounds, is another guy who I am very happy to see get selected. Avdija's career has taken off since Washington traded him to Portland nearly two years ago, and anyone who says they foresaw his current production would probably be lying. He's made small, incremental improvements to his scoring averages each season since his rookie season in 2020-21, but his leap from last year to this year has just been ridiculous. The Trail Blazers are hovering around .500 and currently sit in a Play-In spot, and, if Avdija continues his production, I wouldn't be surprised if they remain in that spot in April and he ends up as a top candidate for the Most Improved Player (MIP) Award.

Jalen Johnson, who will likely end up being Avdija's biggest competition for MIP, is another guy who I'm thrilled to see as part of this year's roster selection. Johnson has put together an incredible season so far, nearly averaging a triple-double at 23 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists. His level of playmaking this year, particularly, has been very fun to see, especially considering the team's recent roster changes. It took him a few games to get acclimated to playing with CJ McCollum after the Trae Young trade, but his production has surged back to where it was prior to the trade. The Hawks are also hovering around .500, and it will take all of Jalen Johnson's efforts to send them to the Playoffs.

Jamal Murray, who was drafted in 2016, has generally always been regarded as an elite-level scorer, but it's great to see him finally get recognized as an All-Star. He's averaging nearly 26 points and 7 assists per game, and quickly became their most crucial player when Nikola Jokic got hurt at the end of December. With Jokic returning recently, he remains an incredibly important part of Denver's team and will play an irreplaceable role in their offense as they aim to get back to the Finals in May. I'm very happy to see him finally get his long-awaited recognition as one of the best in the league.

Norman Powell, who was drafted the year before Jamal Murray, is probably one of this year's more controversial selections, but I think he deserves it. Powell, at 32 years old, is having the best season of his career, averaging 23 points per game. It's rare to see journeymen, like Powell, who's on his fourth team, get an All-Star nod at this point in their careers, but I think that's what makes it so sweet. It's a testament to his resilience and dedication to improving, regardless of his environment. The talent was always there, and it was especially apparent during his recent stint with the Clippers, but it's nice to finally witness it all come to fruition. Powell has helped lead the Miami Heat to a 27-24 record, alongside Bam Adebayo, and I could see him having some big time Play-In, and, potentially, Playoff performances if they make it to that point.

As mentioned earlier, the All-Star selections generally don't come without controversy, but I think it's important to recognize these players as All-Stars, rather than immediately jumping to who was left off the roster. There will always be snubs, and there always have been. It's a testament to how many talented players there are in the league. I'm incredibly excited to see these guys make the trip to LA this year.