The 2026 NBA All-Star reserves were announced Sunday, with Deni Avdija representing the Portland Trail Blazers out West in what is his first-ever appearance. Here were the West and East reserves, per ESPN's Shams Charania:
West reserves: Anthony Edwards, Jamal Murray, Chet Holmgren, Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Deni Avdija, and LeBron James.
East reserves: Donovan Mitchell, Jalen Johnson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Pascal Siakam, Norman Powell, Scottie Barnes, and Jalen Duren.
Blazers officially stole an All-Star from the Wizards
Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard is having a career year offensively and is arguably the biggest snub from either conference. He likely should've made it over LeBron James, who is finally showing signs of Father Time catching up to him. But one player you surprisingly can't make a strong case against is Deni Avdija.
Avdija is also having a career year, averaging 25.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game on 47/36/80 shooting splits. His breakout season has kept Portland afloat in the Western Conference playoff picture, as he's stepped up in a point-forward role to help fill the void left by a depleted Blazers backcourt throughout the season.
This much-deserved All-Star honor is just further confirmation of what everyone already knew about the lopsided nature of this trade for Portland. The Blazers only gave up two first-round picks for someone who has officially become an All-Star. Not to mention, he's still ascending at 25 years old and on arguably the best contract in the entire league.
Washington Wizards President Michael Winger is adamant that trading Avdija wasn't a mistake, but we all know that's not the case. Avdija was just 23 years old when the Wizards traded him, yet Winger said he didn't align with their roster's age curve. Selling low on a rising star who quickly became an All-Star just two years later is the definition of a mistake.
But credit the Blazers front office for capitalizing on this mistake. They not only made the bold move to acquire him but also placed him in an ideal position to succeed.
Avdija's All-Star ascension is accelerating the Blazers' rebuilding timeline, giving them a legitimate shot at returning to the playoffs as soon as this year. Portland's lack of star power was the most significant question mark surrounding their rebuild, one that limited their ceiling and put them at risk of purgatory. And while they still need to find a legitimate co-star for Avdija, the fact that they finally have an All-Star after Damian Lillard is a massive step in the right direction.