Western Conference All-Star reserves: Who should make the cut?

With the 2025 NBA All-Star starters getting announced last Thursday on TNT, the attention shifts to the potential reserves this week. The Western Conference, as usual, has a deep pool of players to choose from and will inevitably have at least a few "snubs." 

Given the structure of how reserves are selected (three frontcourt players, two guards and two "wild cards"), here is a list of players who should make the cut for the reserve spots in the Western Conference. 

Frontcourt

Victor Wembanyama

While Wembanyama's output on the offensive end has been impressive, averaging a career-high 24.5 PPG, his defensive impact has been extraordinary, solidifying his case as an All-Star reserve. Wembanyama leads the NBA in blocks with nearly four rejections a game (3.9 BPG), but the Spurs' on/off numbers are even more telling of his defensive prowess. With Wembanyama on the court they currently hold a 109.4 defensive rating, good for fifth in the NBA; with Wembanyama off the court they hold a 115.8 defensive rating, which would slot them at 26. 

Anthony Davis

Davis has been stellar this season, leading the Los Angeles Lakers in points (25.7 PPG), rebounding (11.9 RPG) and to the No. 5 seed in a loaded Western Conference. The Kentucky product has also ranks third in the NBA in blocks at 2.1 BPG, anchoring what has been a small Lakers frontcourt, which explains his call to the Lakers front office for a starting-caliber center.

Jalen Williams

Williams has been the undisputed second option on this year's Oklahoma City Thunder, the No.1 seed in the Western Conference, averaging a career-high 21.0 PPG and 5.2 APG. These figures and Oklahoma City's success are all the more impressive considering its primary center rotation of Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein have missed a combined 56 games this season. With the extended absences of both Holmgren and Hartenstein, the 2022 Rookie of the Year runner-up successfully shouldered the burden of playing center at just 6-foot-5, further bolstering his case to be an All-Star. 

Jaren Jackson Jr. 

At 31-16 and third in the West, the Memphis Grizzlies have already surpassed the win total from their injury-riddled 2023-24 season, where they went 27-55, largely due to the efforts of Jackson Jr. With star point guard Ja Morant missing 19 games this year due to injury, Jackson Jr. has stepped up, leading the team in points (22.8 PPG) while staying available and missing just two games. 

Guards

James Harden

After averaging the lowest PPG since his sophomore season (16.6 PPG last season), Harden has turned back the clock this season and injected life into a Clippers team who had just lost Paul George and are dealing with the uncertainty of Kawhi Leonard's health. The 2018 MVP has led a scrappy Los Angeles team to a surprising 27-20 record, averaging 21.7 PPG and 8.3 APG in the process. 

Anthony Edwards 

Although the Minnesota Timberwolves have regressed following their Western Conference Finals appearance last season, Edwards has kept up his elite play, pouring in a career-high 26.3 PPG on an elite 41.9 percent from three to keep the Timberwolves afloat at 26-21. The two-time All-Star has often been the lifeline for a stagnant Minnesota offense that frequently has a congested paint with Rudy Gobert and Julius Randle. 

Devin Booker

The Phoenix Suns are a disappointing 24-22, largely stemming from their flawed roster construction and the turmoil surrounding Bradley Beal and Jusuf Nurkic. Yet, Booker has still kept them in playoff contention with averages of 25.5 PPG and 6.7 APG.