The NBA All-Star Game starters were announced recently, and now the focus shifts to the reserves. The unveiling of the starters has already generated controversy, particularly with Stephen Curry being left out and replaced by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. This begs the question: if Curry couldn't make the starting lineup, will he even make it as a reserve player and have to say goodbye to this year's All-Star Game?

The Eastern Conference starters consist of Joel Embiid, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jayson Tatum, Damian Lillard, and Tyrese Haliburton. In the Western Conference, the starters are Nikola Jokic, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Curry's absence from the starting lineup immediately sparked controversy.

Curry's team's poor record has been a major obstacle for him to make the All-Star starting lineup. The Golden State Warriors, currently 19-23, sit at 12th place in the Western Conference, with a 2-game gap behind the 10th spot. Despite leading in the fan voting for the first three rounds, Curry was surpassed by Gilgeous-Alexander in the media voting phase. It is worth noting that Curry has always been a starter in the previous nine All-Star Games he participated in. The only exception was the 2019-2020 season. This raises the question of whether Curry's exclusion from the starting lineup means he would also miss out on being a reserve.

Let's take a look at the Western Conference guards who were in consideration. Other deserving guards who missed out on the starting lineup include Anthony Edwards, Jamal Murray, James Harden, Devin Booker, De'Aaron Fox, and Kyrie Irving.

Among them, Anthony Edwards had a solid case for making the All-Star team, given his team's performance (Minnesota Timberwolves in 1st place in the West) and his individual stats (25.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 1.2 steals per game). The other guard position should go to Devin Booker. The Phoenix Suns have climbed to 5th place in the West, and Booker's performance (27.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 7.5 assists per game) should earn him a reserve spot. These two guards have taken up the Western Conference All-Star reserve positions.

In addition, Curry also faces tough competition from other Western Conference All-Stars. Kawhi Leonard, Anthony Davis, and Paul George have secured the three forward spots. There are also players like DeMar DeRozan, Nikola Vucevic, and Zion Williamson who could potentially take away the spot. Jamal Murray, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving are also on the outside looking in. Murray sits alongside Jokic, Harden's team has a good record but his personal performance has been lacking, and Irving has been absent recently. It wouldn't be an injustice if Curry were to join them.

Moving on to the Eastern Conference All-Star reserves, two forward positions are taken by Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jaylen Brown. The other forward position is being contested by Julius Randle, Pascal Siakam, and Kristaps Porzingis. The guard positions in the East are filled by Fred VanVleet, Donovan Mitchell, and LaMelo Ball. VanVleet and Ball are first-time All-Stars, while Randle's inclusion recognizes the strong performance of the New York Knicks and his own outstanding play since James Harden's departure.

Another candidate for the All-Star reserve spot is Trae Young. However, the Atlanta Hawks currently hold the 10th spot in the Eastern Conference with an 18-26 record, and there are rumors of them trying to trade John Collins. With uncertainty surrounding the team, Young's individual performance, even with 20+ points and 10+ assists per game, may not be enough.Whether Curry will make the All-Star team this season, and if he does, whether it will be as a reserve player, remains uncertain. Regardless, his reputation remains untarnished. He can take advantage of the All-Star weekend to rest and reflect on the Warriors' future plans. Will Curry make it to the All-Star Game this season? Only time will tell.