Cavs’ Darius Garland, Evan Mobley Named All-Star Reserves; Trae Young, Tyrese Maxey Among Snubs

The 2025 NBA All-Star reserves were unveiled Thursday night on TNT’s Inside the NBA and officially confirmed by the league shortly after. A total of 14 players will join the 10 starters in San Francisco on February 16.Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, Cavaliers, Cavs, NBA

The All-Star reserves were selected by NBA head coaches, and there are a few noteworthy inclusions and exclusions worth discussing.

Eastern Conference Reserves:

The East brings a healthy mix of established stars and exciting newcomers. Brown, making his fourth appearance, and Lillard, now in his ninth All-Star Game, are the headliners. But the real intrigue here is the inclusion of first-time All-Stars Cade Cunningham, Tyler Herro, and Evan Mobley.

The guard spots were highly contentious, with the likes of Trae Young, Zach LaVine, LaMelo Ball, and Tyrese Maxey all in the mix. Despite Ball’s strong fan voting showing, it was clear that the coaches favored other options.

Cleveland has reason to celebrate, as they have three representatives in San Francisco — Donovan Mitchell, already named a starter, will be joined by Garland and Mobley. Garland, now a two-time All-Star, continues to take a step forward as one of the league’s premier point guards.

As for Jarrett Allen, he had a legitimate shot, but ultimately fell short of a spot.

Western Conference Reserves:

The Western Conference brings its own mix of established stars and first-time All-Stars. Wembanyama, Sengun, and Williams all make their debuts on the All-Star stage, and it’s hard not to be excited about their futures.

Wembanyama’s rise has been well-documented, and he’s done exactly what the Spurs needed him to do this season, putting them right in the mix for a Play-In spot. Sengun, a revelation for the Rockets, and Williams, the budding star for the Thunder, have both been key contributors for their teams near the top of the West.

As for the veterans, Harden makes his 11th All-Star appearance, and Davis secures his 10th. Harden is still playing at a high level, averaging 21.7 points and 8.4 assists in his 35-year-old season.

Meanwhile, Davis continues to be one of the league’s most dominant defenders, even as he deals with a minor injury. The injury raises some questions about his availability for the All-Star Game, but with more than two weeks until the event, it’s likely he’ll be good to go.

A couple of surprising snubs here, most notably Luka Donic, who will miss the All-Star Game due to injury, and Kyrie Irving, who didn’t earn a spot despite being one of the league’s top scorers.

So the defending Western Conference champion Mavericks won’t have any representation in San Francisco this season. Other notable absentees include Domantas Sabonis (Kings), Norman Powell (Clippers), De’Aaron Fox (Kings), and Devin Booker (Suns).

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