Being named to the NBA All-Star roster is an honor.

However, being chosen as one of the 10 starting players is a different achievement altogether.

On Thursday evening, TNT revealed the starting lineup for the 2025 NBA All-Star Game, set to take place in San Francisco on February 16. The announcement came just before a doubleheader featuring the Miami Heat vs. Milwaukee Bucks and the Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers.

As usual, several players made compelling arguments to secure a starting spot or, at the very least, merit serious consideration. With only five starting positions available per conference, the distinction between being a starter and a reserve is razor-thin. Reserves for the All-Star Game will be disclosed on January 30 via TNT.

Here are some notable players overlooked for the 2025 NBA All-Star Game:

Eastern Conference

Cade Cunningham

Cade Cunningham, the guard for the Detroit Pistons, has been exceptional this season. His impressive performance has propelled the Pistons up the leaderboard, placing them at No. 6 in the Eastern Conference—giving them the last assured playoff berth. Cunningham is currently averaging personal bests with 24.6 points, 9.4 assists, and 5.6 rebounds per game. He has been crucial in helping the Pistons (23-21) achieve nine more wins than they had at this point last season.

Western Conference

Anthony Davis

Anthony Davis, the forward-center for the Los Angeles Lakers, frequently serves as the backbone of the team’s offense, much like LeBron James who contributes as a scorer and playmaker. Davis offers stability to the Lakers, posing a continuous threat around the basket. Throughout this season, he has also expanded his game by utilizing his 3-point shooting, becoming a crucial part of floor spacing. Among players with at least 20 games played, he ranks fourth in player impact estimate (17.9), a stat that encompasses a player’s overall contributions—both good and bad.

Anthony Edwards

Although his shooting efficiency has dipped, Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves remains one of the most dynamic shooting guards in the league, known for his electrifying dunks. This season, Edwards has revamped his shooting approach and leads the league in 3-pointers made (184). He also boasts an impressive 3-point shooting percentage of 42.6% among the top 25 players with the most attempts.

Victor Wembanyama

Victor Wembanyama, the forward-center for the San Antonio Spurs, is regarded as the top defender in the league. With added responsibilities both offensively and defensively in his second year, he has shown significant improvement over his Rookie of the Year campaign. Wembanyama averages 24.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, the highest in the league with 4.0 blocks, along with 3.7 assists, 1.1 steals, while shooting 47.3% overall, 35.4% from beyond the arc, and 84.5% from the free-throw line. His development has made the Spurs a stronger team and put them in contention for the postseason.