The Dallas Mavericks still have a basketball game on Sunday afternoon after the mind-blowing Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis trade that occurred overnight, and once again, the Mavericks are dealing with a bunch of injuries.
Dallas entered the day with Anthony Davis, Max Christie, Dwight Powell, and Dereck Lively II out as Davis and Christie look to join the team, Lively recovers from a stress fracture in his ankle, and Powell deals with a hip strain. Kyrie Irving, Daniel Gafford, and P.J. Washington entered as questionable but were given updates before Sunday’s 2:30 CST tip.
Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford reacts during the second half against the Boston Celtics at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images / Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
Irving (right shoulder soreness), Gafford (ankle soreness), and Washington (knee soreness) were all downgraded to out. Dallas will now be dealing with a skeleton crew of a lineup, likely starting Spencer Dinwiddie, Quentin Grimes, Naji Marshall, Olivier-Maxence Prosper, and two-way center Kylor Kelley against arguably the best team in the NBA.
Irving already missed the game against the Cavaliers earlier in the season, so he’ll go the 2024-25 season without playing against the team that drafted him, barring some other insane trade within the next week.
Cleveland will be without Isaac Okoro (right should AC joint sprain) and Dean Wade (right knee bone bruise). Caris LeVert (right wrist sprain) and Craig Porter Jr. (illness) are still questionable.
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Kyrie Irving, star point guard for the Cleveland Cavaliers, has received a critical injury update ahead of their matchup against the Dallas Mavericks. Irving, who has been dealing with a nagging knee injury, underwent further evaluation by team doctors and it has been determined that he will be sidelined for at least the next two weeks.
This news comes as a blow to the Cavaliers, who are currently fighting for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Irving’s absence will undoubtedly have a significant impact on the team’s performance, as he is a key player and offensive threat for the Cavaliers.
Despite this setback, the Cavaliers remain focused on their goal of making a postseason push and will need to rely on their depth and resilience to fill the void left by Irving’s absence.
Fans will be eagerly awaiting Irving’s return to the court, as his dynamic play and leadership are crucial to the Cavaliers’ success. In the meantime, the team will have to rally together and step up in his absence to secure much-needed wins in their quest for a playoff berth.
The NBA unveiled the “reserves” for the 2025 NBA All-Star Game on Thursday evening, finalizing the 24-man player pool. And for the first time in the 2020s, no Dallas Maverick was selected, as Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic weren’t chosen by the NBA coaches, despite both finishing in the top six of Western Conference guard voting.
Doncic’s exclusion wasn’t a surprise; he’s been hurt since Christmas Day with a calf strain and has played in just 22 of Dallas’ 49 games to this point. There’s no games-played requirement for the All-Star Game like there is with postseason awards, so Doncic technically could’ve been selected, but it’ll also give him another week to rest.
Irving’s exclusion was shocking to many people around the NBA, including former NBA Champion and a former teammate of Kyrie Irving, Kendrick Perkins. He had this to say on ESPN
“I look at a guy like Steph Curry making the All-Star Game this season, and I look at a lot of guys like Kyrie Irving, Devin Booker, De’Aaron Fox, just in this conference who had better seasons, or are playing better than [Curry]. I’m going to say the quiet thing out loud: Steph Curry should not be an All-Star. He shouldn’t! No matter what the fans want, no matter what the coaches want, no matter what we want to see, you still have to earn to be an All-Star by your production. And if you’re looking at the production around the league, it’s guys in the Western Conference that have better numbers than Steph, and their teams are in better positions than Steph.”
June 8, 2018; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers center Kendrick Perkins (21) during the second quarter in game four of the 2018 NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors at Quicken Loans Arena. The Warriors defeated the Cavaliers 108-85 to complete a four-game sweep. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images / Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
Comparing just Stephen Curry and Kyrie Irving, Perkins has a point. Irving is averaging 24.3 PPG, 4.9 RPG, and 4.6 APG while shooting nearly 50/40/90, while Curry is at 22.1 PPG, 6.2 APG, and 4.6 RPG, but isn’t as efficient from three or the floor as Irving is (the degree of difficulty on Curry’s threes are higher, for what it’s worth).
Irving also has the Mavericks at 26-23, sitting 9th in the Western Conference, while Curry’s Warriors are 24-24 in 11th. At the very least, it’s neck and neck, but Curry was voted as a starter, while Irving will be spending the week at home, barring an injury replacement being needed.
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Former NBA champion and current analyst, Kendrick Perkins, recently voiced his opinion that Kyrie Irving deserved an All-Star nod over Steph Curry this season. Perkins argued that Irving’s performance on the court this season has been exceptional and that he has been a more impactful player for the Brooklyn Nets than Curry has been for the Golden State Warriors.
Perkins praised Irving’s scoring ability, playmaking skills, and leadership on the court, emphasizing that he has been a key factor in the Nets’ success this season. He also pointed out Irving’s impressive stats, including his scoring average and shooting percentages, as evidence of his All-Star caliber performance.
While Curry is undoubtedly one of the greatest shooters in NBA history and has had a strong season as well, Perkins believes that Irving’s overall impact on the game should have earned him a spot in the All-Star game over Curry.
It’s clear that opinions on this topic may vary, but it’s interesting to hear a former NBA champion like Perkins make a case for Irving over Curry. Do you agree with his assessment? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Irving: “We’re making an emphasis to get him involved and to keep him involved throughout the game… Also, call his number when we don’t have anything offensively. He’s one of those emergency buttons for us.”
Kyrie Irving says Klay Thompson is an emergency button for the Mavericks.
Thompson is in his first year with Dallas after 13 years with the Golden State Warriors.
The four-time NBA Champion is averaging 13.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists per contest while shooting 41.7% from the field and 39.6% from the three-point range in 41 games.
He has scored 20+ points in each of the previous two.
Via @MavsMuse: “Klay Thompson is leading the entire NBA in 3 pointers made this season (126) for players under 27.5 minutes per game.”
Klay Thompson is leading the entire NBA in 3 pointers made this season (126) for players under 27.5 minutes per game. pic.twitter.com/LzGg42HQgV
With the win, the Mavs are now 26-22 in 48 games, which has them as the eighth seed in the Western Conference.
They are in the middle of a two-game winning streak (and 4-6 over their last ten).
Following New Orleans, the Mavs will play their next game on Saturday when they visit the Detroit Pistons in Michigan.
Dec 27, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) and Klay Thompson (31) against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images / Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
As for Irving, he is in his third season with Dallas.
The future Hall of Famer has also spent time with the Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets and Cleveland Cavaliers.
After the Dallas Mavericks secured a thrilling victory over the New Orleans Pelicans, Kyrie Irving made a bold statement about Klay Thompson that has NBA fans buzzing.
Irving praised Thompson’s incredible shooting ability, calling him “one of the greatest shooters of all time” and stating that he believes Thompson will have a major impact on the Golden State Warriors’ success this season.
Irving’s comments come at a time when Thompson is making his highly anticipated return to the court after missing two full seasons due to injuries. The Warriors are hoping that Thompson’s sharpshooting skills will help propel them back to championship contention.
With Irving’s high praise for Thompson, it’s clear that the NBA community is eagerly awaiting Thompson’s return and is excited to see him back in action. Stay tuned for more updates on Thompson’s comeback and the Warriors’ quest for another title.
Irving (shoulder) has been listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Cavaliers.
After a strong outing in Friday’s loss against the Pistons, finishing with a team-high 28 points, Irving could be watching from the sideline during Sunday’s game in Cleveland. If the one-time NBA champion is ruled out against the Cavaliers, the Mavericks could turn to Spencer Dinwiddie to shift over to point guard. Jaden Hardy, Quentin Grimes and Dante Exum could also see a bump in minutes.
Kyrie Irving Injury Update: Questionable for Sunday’s Game
Brooklyn Nets star point guard Kyrie Irving is currently listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers due to a lingering knee injury. Irving, who has been dealing with soreness in his knee for the past few weeks, sat out the team’s last game as a precautionary measure.
Irving’s status for Sunday’s highly anticipated matchup remains uncertain, as the team continues to monitor his progress and evaluate his readiness to return to action. The Nets will likely make a game-time decision on Irving’s availability, taking into consideration his health and overall well-being.
Fans and analysts alike are eagerly awaiting updates on Irving’s condition, as his presence on the court could greatly impact the outcome of Sunday’s game. Stay tuned for further updates as the Nets provide more information on Irving’s injury status.
With just a little under a week before the NBA’s trade deadline, the Dallas Mavericks have been rumored to be one of the most active teams on the market. After battling injury after injury over the last two months, Dallas’ championship hopes have diminished with each injury to key players. With this in mind, the Mavericks must address multiple needs at the deadline.
While Dallas’ championship hopes could wane on them making a trade and getting Luka Doncic back and healthy before the All-Star break, the team has seen positive progression with multiple players over this tough stretch. Klay Thompson has been one of the Mavericks’ steadiest players over the last week and could finally be hitting his stride at the perfect time.
In addition to Thompson’s pristine offense over the last week, Kyrie Irving has quietly been Dallas’ best player since the beginning of the season. Irving isn’t just averaging Mavericks highs in multiple categories but he largely kept the team afloat amidst this injury-riddled slide.
Irving’s contributions haven’t gone unnoticed and in 10 games without Irving, Dallas is just 3-7. With this in mind, Mavs fans have been clamoring for the former champion to make his first All-Star Game (as a Maverick considering he made it as a Net in 2023) since being traded to Dallas two seasons ago.
Kyrie Irving proves league wrong after All-Star snub
On the season, Irving is averaging 24.3 points per game, 4.8 assists per game, and 4.6 rebounds per game, all while shooting the ball at a nearly 50 percent rate from the field and 41.5 percent from behind the 3-point line.
Despite these eye-popping numbers, Irving was snubbed of his ninth all-star appearance in what has become one of the league’s biggest talking points over the last few days. While Irving’s disrespect from the league may sound like something new, this has been a common trend throughout the superstar’s career.
This season, Irving’s lack of whistles from the referees has been apparent and it has even caused the Mavericks to lose some games but putting all of this behind him, Irving had a strong performance against the Detroit Pistons in his first game back since not being selected for the All-Star team.
In the midst of a five-game road trip, Dallas played the Pistons in what could mark one of Dallas’ low points of the season after losing 117-102 in embarrassing fashion. Despite this, Irving shined as he dropped 28 points on decent numbers from the field.
Irving dazzled on the offensive end of the floor and even hit some incredible 3-point shots to keep Dallas connected at a critical time in the game. While Irving’s efforts didn’t result in a win, his performance sent a clear message to the league that they messed up by not giving Irving his ninth All-Star nod.
Irving was perhaps the Mavericks’ only plus player in last night’s loss as he was only one of two players to finish the game with more than 20 points. While Irving may not have shot the lights out, his efforts displayed just how desperate Dallas has become as they battle multiple injuries before the trade deadline.
If the Mavericks fans are to take any takeaways from this game it’s that Irving deserved to be named an All-Star and the Mavericks must get Irving and Doncic help if they wish to keep their championship hopes alive this season.
Kyrie Irving, star point guard for the Brooklyn Nets, is not one to shy away from speaking his mind. And recently, he has made it very clear that he is fed up with the disrespect he and other players in the NBA have been receiving.
In a post-game interview, Irving expressed his frustration with the constant criticism and lack of appreciation from fans, media, and even some fellow players. He called out the double standards and unfair treatment that he believes has been plaguing the league.
Irving reminded everyone that NBA players are human beings too, and deserve to be treated with respect and dignity. He emphasized that the constant negativity and hate directed towards players not only affects their mental health, but also perpetuates harmful stereotypes and perpetuates a toxic culture within the league.
It’s time for the NBA to take a long, hard look at how they treat their players. Kyrie Irving’s powerful words serve as a reminder that the disrespect has gone way too far, and it’s time for a change. Players deserve to be celebrated for their talents and contributions to the game, not torn down and disrespected at every turn. Let’s listen to their voices and work towards creating a more positive and supportive environment for all players in the NBA.
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Kevin Durant is such a perfect model of a pure scorer that he might belong in a museum.
Just ask former teammate Kyrie Irvig.
“He’s that guy that you see almost like a monument in a science museum of just like, what does a great scorer look like?” Irving said in a Friday piece by ESPN’s Tim MacMahon. “Seven feet, able to handle the ball, able to shoot over anybody, but also a fierce competitor.”
It’s hard to argue with Irving’s assessment.
Durant entered the league scoring as the 2007-08 Rookie of the Year and hasn’t looked back since. He is still putting up astonishing numbers at the age of 36 and enters Friday’s game against the Golden State Warriors averaging 27.3 points a night.
That means it should only take him three or four more games to score the 94 points he needs to become just the eighth player in NBA history to score 30,000 career points. He will join legendary names such as Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain and Kobe Bryant when he does so.
Only Jordan (10) and Chamberlain (seven) have more scoring titles than Durant’s four, and MacMahon noted he, Larry Bird and Steve Nash are the only players in league history with multiple 50/40/90 shooting-split seasons.
That’s not bad company to keep.
As Irving described, Durant is a scoring machine who can find the basket a variety of ways. He remains unstoppable even at this stage of his career and has been a bright spot for a Suns team that is battling through inconsistency with a 24-22 record that has them in ninth place in the Western Conference standings.
But they will be a threat to any opponent in the playoffs as long as Durant is on the floor.
In a recent interview, Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving had high praise for his teammate Kevin Durant, likening him to “a monument in a science museum” when it comes to his epic scoring ability.
Irving, who has been playing alongside Durant this season, expressed his admiration for the way Durant dominates on the court with his scoring prowess. “Kevin is like a monument in a science museum, just towering over everything and leaving everyone in awe,” Irving said.
Durant, who is known for his scoring prowess and ability to take over games, has been putting up impressive numbers this season. His combination of size, skill, and shooting touch makes him a truly unique talent in the NBA.
Fans and analysts alike have been marveling at Durant’s performances, with many considering him a frontrunner for the MVP award this season. With Irving also playing at an elite level, the Nets are shaping up to be a serious contender in the Eastern Conference.
As the season progresses, all eyes will be on Durant and Irving as they look to lead the Nets to a deep playoff run. With their chemistry on and off the court, the duo has the potential to be one of the most dynamic tandems in the league.
Stay tuned for more updates on Durant, Irving, and the Brooklyn Nets as they continue their quest for an NBA championship.
As complaints about All-Star snubs go, Mark Cubanās āNBA gonna NBAā wasnāt as pointed as Devin Bookerās charge that itās āan entertainment, drama, political league,ā but itās pithier. Probably doesnāt rise to the level of a fine. And not because Cuban, first in league history in fines, is just a minority owner these days.
You can still get busted even if youāre not calling the shots anymore, though it probably takes all the fun out of it.
Then again, if he was just going to stroll through his All-Star appearance as usual, maybe heās good to go now.
But Kyrie getting stiffed as an All-Star? Who counted the coachesā votes?
The Nets?
Kyrieās old team might be justified holding a grudge after seeing how heās played since the deadline deal two years ago. Not only did he help the Mavs to the NBA Finals last season, heās been a model citizen since forcing his way out of Brooklyn. Makes it all the worse for the Nets considering how the trade worked out on their side.
Brooklyn got Dorian Finney-Smith, Spencer Dinwiddie, two second-round picks and a first in 2029. The Nets may yet make something out of all the seconds theyāve accumulated in deals involving those principals. As it stands, all theyāve got is DāAngelo Russell.
D-Lo is a nice player, but heās no Hall of Famer.
Explains what Kyrie meant when asked about the deal after scoring 25 points in the Mavsā 106-98 win over Oklahoma City a couple weeks ago.
āBest trade in the business, baby,ā he told reporters. āWe won that trade.
Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) wrestles for a loose ball with Memphis Grizzlies guard Scotty Pippen Jr. (1) during the first half of an NBA basketball game at American Airlines Center on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, in Dallas.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)
Despite a bulging disk in his back, Kyrie has held the Mavs together not only in Lukaās absence but those created by injuries to at least half the rotation.
Youād think a guy whoās keeping the reigning Western Conference champs afloat with exceptional numbers would get the benefit of the doubt with coaches.
Not so much, it turns out.
Before we go any further, hereās how it works: Once fans, media and players vote on two backcourt players and three frontcourt, with fans counting 50% and the players and media splitting the other half, head coaches pick seven reserves.
In the West, they went with Anthony Edwards and James Harden, the only guards, and Anthony Davis, Jaren Jackson Jr., Victor Wembanyama, Alpheren Sengun and Jalen Williams. Because itās hard divvying up so many great players among so few spots, coaches give added weight to players from good teams.
Which is why the deeper West has just two teams with multiple representatives (Oklahoma City and the Lakers) while 75% of the Eastās roster comes from Cleveland, Boston, Milwaukee and the Knicks.
Team record explains why the Hornetsā LaMelo Ball, who led all players in the fan vote, didnāt make the team even though heās the leagueās fourth-leading scorer. Domantas Sabonis (21.0 points, 14.6 rebounds, 6.5 assists) got hosed again because he plays for the Kings. Same with South Garlandās Tyrese Maxey in Philadelphia, Trae Young in Atlanta and Booker in Phoenix.
Youngās defensive rating as a turnstile doesnāt help, either.
No arguments here with most of the choices in the West. But there was still a way to include Kyrie.
For one thing, Hardenās numbers (21.7 points, 8.4 assists, 5.8 rebounds, 35.3% on 3s, 4.6 turnovers, 3.9 win shares) arenāt as good overall as Irvingās (24.2 points, 4.9 assists, 4.6 rebounds, 41.9% on 3s, 2.3 turnovers, 4.1 win shares) going into Fridayās game. The difference in the coachesā minds, apparently, is that the Clippersā record is better, so Harden gets the nod.
Not a good enough reason, but a better one than giving the Thunder a second rep.
Williams is a good player, but OKC has a lot of good players. Once Chet Holmgren returns, itāll have its second-best one. This should tell you where the coaches got it wrong in picking the reserves.
Giving OKCās third-best player its second spot on the All-Star team while denying the Mavs and their second-best player seems like bad math.
For the record: This isnāt the first time the Mavs whiffed as All-Stars. Happened all the time in the ā80s, ā90s and last decade. First, Dirk Nowitzki almost singlehandedly changed the perception of the Mavs for the better, then Luka picked up where he left off. Time for everyone to realize the Mavs arenāt a one-horse team anymore.
Kyrie Irving has been a key contributor to the success of the Dallas Mavericks this season, stepping up in the absence of injured star Luka Doncic. Despite his impressive performances, Irving was snubbed from the All-Star Game roster.
After averaging 27.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game, Irving deserved to be recognized as one of the top players in the league. His fearless play and clutch performances have kept the Mavericks competitive in the tough Western Conference.
Irving’s snub is a disservice to his talent and hard work this season. He has proven himself as a top-tier player and should have been rewarded with an All-Star selection.
As the Mavericks continue to push for a playoff spot, Irving’s contributions should not go unnoticed. He has been a key factor in their success and deserves better than being left off the All-Star roster. It’s time for the league to recognize Irving’s talent and give him the recognition he deserves.
The NBA announced the reserves for the 2025 All-Star game during the TNT pregame show for tonightās matchup between the Atlanta Hawks and Cleveland Cavaliers. The 74th annual All-Star game will take place on Sunday, February 16 in San Francisco. The Mavericks missed out on their first All-Star player since 2018 as Kyrie Irving was not among the reserves announced for the Western Conference.
After making the NBA Finals last summer, The Mavericks are the only team with more than 25 wins and with no All-Stars. The Mavericks have stayed afloat in the playoff race, currently sitting at 26-22 while having to deal without the services of star Luka Doncic.
Irving, the eight-time All-Star, is averaging 24.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.9 assists this season, while shooting a scorching 42% from behind the arc. He has been consistent for Dallas during a season full of injuries. In his 38 games this year, he has lifted the Mavericks up by their bootstraps many times and carried them to the finish line. As we know, this doesnāt take anything away from Irving or the season heās had, especially while dealing with recent injuries.
Selected to the Western Conference All-Star reserves at the guard position were Minnesotaās Anthony Edwards and the Clippersā James Harden, an elite company that Irving had to compete with for the bid. If youād ask me, Iād give the nod to Irving over Harden, who is shooting a jarring 39% from the field this season, but I just write for Mavs Moneyball. You can find the rest of the Western Conference reserves here.
While Irving deserves all his flowers for his dedication and performance this season, it will be nice to know that he will be getting some rest as he continues to deal with a bulging disc in his back. To add, while we may miss Doncicās All-Star shenanigans, it adds comfort knowing that he, too, will be getting rest as he is set to return from his extended absence before All-Star Weekend.
You can find the Eastern Conference All-Star reserves here.
In a surprising turn of events, Kyrie Irving has been left off the list of reserves for the 2025 West All-Star team. Despite his impressive performance this season, including averaging over 25 points per game and leading the Brooklyn Nets to a top seed in the Eastern Conference, Irving was snubbed in favor of other players.
Many fans and analysts are shocked by this decision, as Irving is widely considered one of the top guards in the league. Some speculate that his controversial off-court behavior and recent injury history may have played a role in the coaches’ decision to leave him off the All-Star roster.
Regardless of the reasons behind the snub, Irving’s absence from the All-Star game is sure to be a major topic of discussion in the coming days. Fans will have to wait and see if Irving uses this snub as motivation to come back even stronger in the second half of the season.
As February comes to a close the Dallas Mavericks are slowly getting their roster back toward a place of sustainability, as Dallas has dealt with many injuries and illnesses that have derailed the trajectory of their season. The Mavericks have surmised some solid wins in this recent stretch, but they have a lot more ground to cover if they want to get back to a top four seed in the Western Conference like they were before Christmas, and itās crucial that Dallas builds some momentum heading into the All-Star break.
Thereās a variety of trades the Mavericks could explore to upgrade their roster ahead of the February 6 trade deadline, as recent injuries to Maxi Kleber and Dereck Lively II have boosted the need for a backup big man or bigger-bodied wing. Dallas recently signed Kylor Kelley to a two-way deal to mend their lack of big man depth a little bit, and the likes of Kessler Edwards and Olivier-Maxence Prosper are proving they are rotation-caliber NBA wings recently, but the Mavericks could still definitely use some depth in these areas to sure up their roster ahead of the postseason.
While making a trade before the deadline is possibly one of Dallasā top priorities over the next week, Dallasā main priority is coming out of All-Star break is likely to get fully healthy, and they are coming closer to that goal as superstar Luka Doncic will make a return to action soon.
Unfortunately for Doncic, heās missed one too many games this season to have a legitimate case to make the All-Star team, as he wasnāt announced as a reserve or starter for the Western Conference this season. However, co-star Kyrie Irving is having one of his best statistical seasons in years and has only missed 10 games through 48 contests this season, yet Irving wasnāt selected as an All-Star when the reserves were announced yesterday.
3 Players Kyrie Irving deserved an All-Star spot over
Itās obvious that Irving got snubbed because Dallasā record (26-22) as well as the fact that they are the eighth seed didnāt seem fit enough to coaches who selected the reserves, but Irving is more than deserving of making the All-Star team this season.
Irving has led Dallas valiantly through all the hiccups in their lineup this season, and heās proved to be as durable as ever in his 14th NBA season. Even on a case-by-case basis, Irving clears a few of the names that were selected as Western Conference All-Stars this season, even though there are clearly some players who are on teams with better records than Irving.
3. James Harden
First off, the most glaring player that Irving shouldnāt have been snubbed for is James Harden, as Harden has played in a few more games than Irving and the Clippers are the sixth seed in the West, but Irving is having a wildly more efficient season. Through 44 games this season, Harden is currently averaging 21.7 points, 8.4 assists, and 5.8 rebounds per game on 39.9/35.2/88.8 shooting splits.
Harden has stood the test of time well this season for the Clippers and has them at the sixth seed in the West despite Kawhi Leonard missing a ton of time to start the season, but Dallas has encountered far more adversity and Irving has been more crucial to Dallasā success than Harden has been for the Clippersā. Irving is currently averaging 24.2 points, 4.9 assists, and 4.6 rebounds per game on 48.2/41.9/89.7 shooting splits, and heās not turning the ball over 4.6 times per game like Harden is, so itās clear who the coaches shouldāve gone with even though the Clippers have a better record than Dallas.
2. Alperen Sengun
Alperen Sengun and the Houston Rockets are surging past all initial expectations this season, as the dynamic big man is currently averaging 19.1 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game for the Westās second seed. Given the Rockets are the second seed, it was to be expected that the coaches would give them some representation for All-Star weekend in San Francisco, but that doesnāt make Sengun more deserving of an All-Star appearance than Irving.
Sengun is a great young big man who has some Jokic-esque offensive qualities, but the Rockets have an extremely talented roster across the board, and he hasnāt been near as vital to their success as Irving has been for Dallas. The Mavericks wouldnāt even be in the playoff picture much less the eighth seed if Irving didnāt carry this team over the past month with Doncic down, and Irving has been nearly as efficient from the field compared to Sengun this season even though Sengun is a center and Irving is a point guard, so Irving clearly shouldāve been selected ahead of Sengun.
1. Jalen Williams
Jalen Williams has commanded far more attention on the offensive end this season, as heās ascended to one of the best pure three-level scorers in the league over the past season and a half or so. Williams is currently averaging 21.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game for the Oklahoma City Thunder, and the Mavericks have seen just how dynamic Williams can be on multiple occasions recently, including their playoff series versus the Thunder in the second round last season.
With the Thunder being the first seed in the West, Williams was easily the most deserving player to make the All-Star team out of anyone on this list, but heās still not more deserving than Irving. Williams hasnāt taken the step from star to superstar quite yet, as heās still not an expert at navigating double teams and more deceptive defensive coverages, but heās certainly getting there and will be there soon.
Irving has been more dynamic offensively this season for the Mavericks and has been put in a more burdensome position compared to Williams though, and itās objective to say Williams probably couldnāt do the same thing if he was in Irvingās position with Dallasā beat up roster over this past month. Williams may be more deserving than Irving for All-Star candidacy for seasons to come, but the coaches shouldāve waited one more year to vote for Williams as an All-Star reserve ahead of Irving.
Ben Simmons – While Simmons is a talented player, his lack of a consistent jump shot and scoring ability should have kept him from being selected over Kyrie Irving. Irving is a proven scorer and clutch performer, making him a more deserving All-Star.
Jaylen Brown – Brown has had a solid season with the Boston Celtics, but his numbers do not compare to Irving’s. Irving has been a key player for the Brooklyn Nets and has shown time and time again that he can perform at an elite level. Brown’s selection over Irving is certainly surprising.
Zach LaVine – LaVine has had a breakout season with the Chicago Bulls, but his selection over Irving is questionable. Irving is a perennial All-Star and has proven himself on the biggest stage, while LaVine is still establishing himself as a top player in the league. Irving’s snub in favor of LaVine is a shock to many fans and analysts.
The NBA released the reserves for the 2025 NBA All-Star Game on Thursday evening. For the first time since his rookie season, Luka Doncic is not an All-Star. Neither is Kyrie Irving, who misses out on the All-Star Game for the second straight season.
Injuries have hampered the Dallas Mavericks superstar, as he’s played in just 22 games this season thanks to a litany of ailments, including a calf strain he suffered on Christmas Day against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He hasn’t played since then, costing him his sixth-straight All-Star selection, but he should be returning in the next few weeks.
Irving, meanwhile, has had a tremendous season, averaging 24.2 PPG, 4.9 APG, and 4.6 RPG while nearly shooting 50/40/90. He’s played in the majority of the Mavericks’ games and has helped keep the team afloat, but the coaches felt differently. He’s still waiting to make an All-Star appearance as a Maverick; he technically made one in 2023, soon after being traded to Dallas, but most of his production came with the Brooklyn Nets. He’s an eight-time All-Star in his career.
Doncic got off to a slow start to the season by his standards but had rebounded to still be averaging 28.1 PPG, 8.3 RPG, and 7.8 APG before going down on Christmas. His numbers are All-Star worthy, and if the initial starter ballots were still the deciding factor, he likely would’ve been in, as he finished third among Western Conference guards in voting. The starters are weighted from 50% of the fan vote, 25% of the player vote, and 25% of the vote from a media pool. All-Star reserves are selected entirely by the NBA coaches.
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic makes a practice shot as center Dereck Lively II (left) looks on during the second half against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images / Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Decades from now, people will be looking at Luka Doncic’s Basketball Reference page and wondering what caused the blip in All-Star and All-NBA appearances. He got off to a torrid pace in his NBA career, making five consecutive All-NBA First-Teams starting from his second season in the NBA, one of few players in NBA history to do so. He likely would’ve been on pace to make another First Team before the injuries, and the NBA’s new 65-game requirement disqualified Doncic for any awards at the end of the season.
But if Doncic returns soon and helps the Mavericks make another late regular-season run with a deep push into the playoffs, all will be forgiven. Doncic entered the season as the favorite to win the MVP, but he said his only goal was to be healthy in the playoffs so he could help bring a championship to Dallas as Dirk Nowitzki did before him.
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The 2025 NBA All-Star Game rosters have been announced, and to the surprise of many fans, Mavericks stars Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic have not been selected to participate in the highly anticipated event.
Despite their impressive performances throughout the season, Irving and Doncic were unfortunately left off the roster, leading to disappointment among Mavericks fans and supporters of the two talented players.
Irving, known for his exceptional ball-handling skills and scoring ability, has been a dominant force on the court for the Mavericks this season. Similarly, Doncic, with his remarkable playmaking and scoring prowess, has been a standout player for the team.
While it is disappointing that Irving and Doncic will not be showcasing their talents in the All-Star Game this year, there is no doubt that they will continue to excel and make their mark in the league.
Fans can still support their favorite Mavericks players and enjoy the All-Star festivities as they cheer on the other talented athletes who have been selected to participate in the game. Let’s show our support for Irving and Doncic as they continue to shine bright on the court and represent the Mavericks with pride.
Tags:
Mavericks, Kyrie Irving, Luka Doncic, NBA All-Star Game, 2025, snub, Dallas Mavericks, Brooklyn Nets, All-Star selection, NBA stars
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