Phoenix Suns Star Guard Devin Booker addresses NBA All-Star Snub

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San Francisco – Phoenix Suns Star Guard Devin Booker sees his NBA All-Star Snub a few ways.

“Obviously, something I wanted to be a part of, but I certainly won’t complain about taking a week to group the family,” Booker said after Friday’s morning shot at the Chase Center before facing Golden State. “It will always be a conversation every year that was snubbed and did not. There were many people who deserved. “

A four-time all-star, Booker was not selected for February 16 at the Chase Center despite being one of only two players at the Western conference in the Top 15 in the NBA in the scoring and assists.

The other? Three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic from Denver Nuggets.

“The book is one of the big two guards in our league right now,” Suns coach Mike Budenholzer said on Wednesday. “What he has done this season as a goal scorer, as a playmaker, as leader.”

The NBA head trainers select the seven reserves for the eastern and western conference. Booker is an average of 25.5 points and 6.7 assists in 41 games.

“He’s clearly in our minds an all-star,” he added. “Hopefully, the other coaches see and respect what he has done this season. It’s never easy, but the guy he’s one of the best players in our league. I don’t see how he isn’t an all-star. “

Booker said that Suns (24-22) “has bigger things to worry about” on the way in and comes out of the All-Star break. Phoenix is ​​currently ninth in the West.

“We find out how to play the right way consistently and stack some wins,” Booker said.

The NBA head trainers choose two guards, three frontcourt players and two wild cards regardless of position for the seven all-star reserves from each conference.

The seven western reserves consist of two guards in Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves) and James Harden (La Clippers) and five frontcourt players in Anthony Davis (Los Angones Lakers), Jaren Jackson Jr. (Memphis Grizzlies), Alperen Sengun (Houston Rockets), Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs) and Jalen Williams (Oklahoma City Thunder).

So the coaches filled the two wildcard stains with frontcourt players.

“It’s just tough, man,” Booker said. “There are so many talented players in the league now. You can build a case for probably three or four guys on each side who have a legitimate case of being an all-star. “

Suns All-Star Kevin Durant believes the guards should have 15 players representing each conference.

“When I play NBA2K, they give you the opportunity,” Durant said of adding players to the All-Star team on the video game.

“I chose it every time. It should be 15 guys for a team. We have 15 on the guard schedule, ” he said, referring to the NBA Regular Team Rosters during the season. “It should be 15 guys, 30 guys who make the game, in my opinion. What is it, 12 now? I think we can add another three spots to each team. So many good players go out there affecting their Keep in a positive way that gets stumbled.

Booker is open to this idea and says that Dallas Maverick’s guard Kyrie Irving, Los Angeles Clippers-Guard Norman Powell, Atlanta Hawks Guard Trae Young and Charlotte Hornets Guard Lamelo Ball deserve all-star recognition.

“I think there are probably talented guys out here who I said deserve,” Booker said. “You look at Kyrie, Norman Powell, these guys have incredible, effective years and winning games. To the east, I am sure there are also guys like Trae and Lamelo who just set up unheard of numbers. The more talent in there, the better. “

Young went to X, formerly known as Twitter, to address his all-star snub with a little humor.

“It will no longer be” Snubbed “, it gets” Traed “at this time,” Posted Young. “Sorry to my fans .. It eventually changes! Okay, talk soon!”

Fans, current players and a media panel chose All-Star starters. The fans make up 50% of the votes, while the players and the media each have 25% of the votes.

Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star Guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Golden State Warriors Guard Stephen Curry, Los Angeles Lakers Forward Lebron James, Durant and Jokic were appointed West Starters.

Traditionally, East All-Stars have fought for West All-Stars to end the weekend’s celebration of the league. The All-Star game has recently lost its brilliance and has been criticized for lacking competitiveness as the teams set unreal scoring records.

The East won last year, 211-186, in Indianapolis, when Karl-Anthony Towns scored 50 points in 28 minutes. The East’s 211 points are the most scored by a winning team in the game’s 73-year history.

Jayson Tatum set the individual scoring record with 55 in the 2023 All-Star game in Salt Lake City.

The NBA decided to change the All-Star game format this year with a four-team mini tournament where TNT’s Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’Neal will have a draft and choose three eight-man teams from the 24 all stars. The Rising Stars champion from Friday will be the fourth team.

The change eliminates to have east to the west.

It leads to the following questions: Should NBA just vote for 24 players, or more, regardless of the conference, to get the best players in the All-Star game?

“It’s an idea,” Booker said with a laugh. “I leave it to the people who control it. Whatever it does to get it back to how the All-Star game used to be and how people saw it in that moment and the weekend, all to keep the business out. “

(This story has been updated to add or change a video.)

Do you have opinions about the current sunshine? Well Suns Insider Duane Rankin on [email protected] Or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, on @Duanerankin.

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