While Dallas Mavericks stars Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving are two of the NBA’s most recognizable players, neither were selected for the 2025 NBA All-Star Game. Mark Cuban thinks the game will suffer because of it. On Thursday night, Cuban, the former majority and current minority owner of the Mavericks, expressed his disapproval regarding the omissions of Dončić and Irving.
“Those tv ratings for All Star are gonna be crazy… Lol,” Cuban said. “NBA gonna NBA. JUST INSANE Luka and Kai aren’t going.”
Those tv ratings for All Star are gonna be crazy… Lol
NBA gonna NBA
JUST INSANE Luka and Kai aren’t going https://t.co/cds3jkIzDB
— Mark Cuban (@mcuban) January 31, 2025
Dončić’s absence can be justified due to his injury sustained during Dallas’ Christmas Day game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, which has kept him from playing since. Although recent reports indicate he may return before the All-Star Break, his missed games—eight before the Christmas injury—explain why he was not selected. In contrast, Irving’s exclusion appears to be a genuine snub, as he ranks third among Western Conference point guards, averaging 24.2 points per game with notable shooting percentages of 48.2% from the field, 41.9% from three-point range, and 89.7% from the free-throw line.
However, the situation isn’t solely about Irving’s impressive statistics. If Irving were to make the team, another player would have to be dropped, as only four guards from the Western Conference are All-Stars: Anthony Edwards and James Harden as reserves, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Steph Curry as starters. Gilgeous-Alexander, a top MVP candidate, and Curry, a perennial All-Star, especially with the game hosted in San Francisco, complicate the selection process. While some may argue for Irving over Edwards, comparing him with Harden yields a more favorable perspective for Irving, though it is difficult to dispute Harden’s selection as a reasonable choice.
Ultimately, considering the widespread criticism of the All-Star Game’s product, lower TV ratings and a diminished showcase could inadvertently serve as a net benefit for the league.
