Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young has expressed that he does not see his omission from the upcoming All-Star Game as a personal slight. Instead, he has coined a new term for such situations: “It’s getting ‘Traed’ at this point,” he shared through his social media channels.
As the current leader in assists in the NBA and a three-time All-Star himself, Young’s absence from the All-Star lineup for the event scheduled on February 16 in San Francisco has certainly raised eyebrows. The reserves for the game are determined by the league’s coaches, with their choices being announced on Thursday.
Joining Young on the list of notable players who did not make the All-Star team is Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns. Booker, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and four-time All-Star, voiced his thoughts about the current state of the NBA, indicating that the league has shifted from what it used to be. “It just reproves the point that the NBA is different from the game that I fell in love with… Now it’s an entertainment, drama, political-filled league,” he commented, while acknowledging the financial benefits of being part of such a system.
When discussions arise about players who should have made the All-Star roster, the subsequent debate often revolves around which chosen players may not have deserved their spots. Young last played in the All-Star Game in 2022, and while he was named as an injury replacement by Commissioner Adam Silver last year, he has not been voted in directly since. Hawks head coach Quin Snyder emphasized that he believes the players selected are worthy of their spots but still expressed disappointment over Young’s exclusion.
“That also doesn’t preclude me from feeling the way I do about Trae,” Snyder stated, acknowledging his observations despite having a relatively brief coaching tenure with Young. “I feel like he’s had the best year of his career. … I am allowed to feel disappointment for him not making it. And that’s unfortunate.”
Fan votes play a significant role, making up 50% of the criteria for who starts in the game. In the Eastern Conference, LaMelo Ball from Charlotte was the leading backcourt player in fan votes. However, he narrowly missed being named a starter after placing third in player voting and seventh in media votes, ultimately leading to his exclusion as a reserve due to insufficient support from coaches.
Ball has made history as the first player under the current All-Star voting structure to win the fan vote for his position but not receive a selection for the game itself. Booker proposed a straightforward adjustment to the selection process: “Put the best players in the game,” he suggested, highlighting the need for changes in how All-Star participants are chosen.
