Like every year, competition for the Western Conference All-Star spots is fierce. Five deserving starters –Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry, Los Angeles Lakers point guard Luka Doncic, Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic and San Antonio Spurs big man Victor Wembanyama –were already announced. The seven reserves will be revealed on Sunday at 6 p.m. EST.
At 30-17, the Houston Rockets are fourth in the Western Conference standings. Do they really deserve two out of the seven All-Star reserve spots?
The Houston Rockets Deserve 2 All-Star Reserves In 2025-26
Saturday night’s game certainly wasn’t the best showcase for the Rockets’ potential All-Star reserves. Houston did defeat the Dallas Mavericks, 111-107, but the standout performance was by future All-Star Cooper Flagg. Still, Houston’s prospective All-Stars –15-time All-Star Kevin Durant and last year’s debutante, Alperen Sengun –made themselves felt late to seal the win.
Despite decent offensive numbers (18.2 points, 7.7 rebounds, 5.5 assists) and two-of-a-kind defensive impact, starting point guard Amen Thompson won’t even be eligible for the snub category this season.
Rockets All-Star Reserve #1: Kevin Durant
Durant is averaging 26.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game this season. Over 45 games, he’s shooting 51.0% from the field, 40.5% from 3, and 88.6% from the free-throw line. The 19-year veteran’s scoring is at its lowest mark since leaving the Golden State Warriors in 2019. His raw points total is nonetheless good for third in the entire Western Conference. When teams gameplan against the Rockets, their goal is to keep the ball out of Durant’s hands and double-team his isolations. Keeping that in mind, NBA coaches make the gameplans, and NBA coaches select the reserves.
Rockets All-Star Reserve #2: Alperen Sengun
The opposing team’s gameplans also mention Sengun. The big man is currently on an abysmal run, shooting 16-54 (29.6%) from the field over his last three games. Right before that, though, he had 33 points on 15-17 shooting against the Memphis Grizzlies. The reason? Memphis’ game plan was to “guard” him with spot-starter Santi Aldama.
Overall, Sengun is averaging 21.0 points, 9.3 rebounds, 6.4 assists on 50.0% from the field, 30.0% from 3, and 68.4% from the free throw-line. He’s played in 40 of Houston’s 47 games. Numbers aside, Sengun makes Houston’s whole offense hum. Sometimes the result is a little off-key (something that acquiring an “MVP” point guard might even out). But it’s better than the dull, incessant beat of isolation dribbling that Houston defaults to without him.
KD & Alpi’s Competition
It’s not hard to name seven players who should get in besides Houston’s duo.
However, the only strict locks this year are probably Minnesota Timberwolves wing Anthony Edwards and Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker. Lakers forward LeBron James, Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, and Chet Holmgren all have strong cases to be their team’s second All-Star. Deni Avdija is also putting together a strong season for the Portland Trail Blazers. An argument can easily be made for the Los Angeles Clippers’ star duo Kawhi Leonard and James Harden as well. Even counting just one Clipper, that’s seven guys right there.
For KD and Alpi to both make it, it’s likely that someone from that list would have to be excluded.
Funnily enough, the most obvious All-Star exclusion would be the player on the team with the best record in the league. Holmgren is averaging 17.8 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 2.0 blocks per game. The strength of his candidacy comes from his defense and OKC’s impressive record. But, as of late, the Thunder’s record has been getting progressively less impressive. Though 38-11 overall, they are just 6-4 in their last 10.
In order to accommodate two Rockets All-Star reserves, one of the All-Star hopefuls on the sub-.500 Clippers or Blazers would probably have to miss out as well. Avdji is averaging 25.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 6.7 assists. Even so, the Blazers are just 23-26. Harden averages 25.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 8.1 assists, while Leonard averages 27.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 3.5 assists. But the Clippers, even after turning their season around, are still 22-25.
NBA fans don’t have long to wait for the big reveal. How long they’d have to wait for Rockets fans to stop bringing up the snub, if there is one, remains to be seen.
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