Devin Booker’s NBA All-Star slight causes a Twitter uproar

Devin Booker will have to wait.

If not another year, the Phoenix Suns guard will have to wait for a Western Conference player picked for the 2020 NBA All-Star Game to pull out of the event.

The NBA released its coaches’ choices for the All-Star reserves on Thursday, and Booker missed out despite averaging 27.1 points and 6.4 assists per game on 51% shooting.

Of the seven picks out of the Western Conference, three spots went to frontcourt players: Rudy Gobert, Nikola Jokic and Brandon Ingram, the last of whom became a target for Booker fans’ venom after learning the Suns guard was left out.

In that regard, blame the format that requires coaches to pick three frontcourt players, two backcourt players and two remaining players of any position.

But Booker was also set back by reputation picks.

Damian Lillard, Russell Westbrook and Chris Paul all made the All-Star team, while first-timer Donovan Mitchell also made it at guard because he plays for one of the hottest NBA teams at present.

Aside from Lillard, there’s at least a reasonable argument for Booker to make the squad over any of the aforementioned reserve guards.

Booker was widely viewed as the biggest snub from either conference — Bradley Beal of the Washington Wizards was also mentioned a ton — and that had hoops fans, reporters and analysts all fired up on Twitter.

Even a few players who have played with and against Booker didn’t get into his first NBA All-Star Game.

F%?!*n Joke @DevinBook https://t.co/E5iwlehLXr

— Karl-Anthony Towns (@KarlTowns) January 31, 2020

D Book should’ve gotten in….🤦🏽‍♂️

— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) January 30, 2020

Let’s argue now. Biggest snub? Any surprises?
I think Booker should be in there FOR SURE

— Evan Fournier (@EvanFourmizz) January 30, 2020

No Booker!!!!! Stop it!!!!! https://t.co/37MrX3XZJ4

— Jared Dudley (@JaredDudley619) January 30, 2020

Respective observers of national basketball games were surprised by the news of Booker’s snub. The stats backed them up.

If you are going to say a player got snubbed, list the player who he should have replaced.

So, I’ll start- Devin Booker over Russell Westbrook.

— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) January 31, 2020

Devin Booker is a legit snub. Would’ve taken him over three West reserves: Mitchell, Ingram, Russ. Rep worked against him

Jaylen Brown is a personal snub but I don’t feel as strongly about that one. Glad Sabonis made it

— Mike Prada. I have spoken (@MikePradaSBN) January 30, 2020

An absolute joke that Devin Booker didn't make the All-Star team

— Nate Duncan (@NateDuncanNBA) January 30, 2020

Russell Westbrook has been pretty great recently. Basically has been great since mid-December.

Don’t think I can say with a straight face he’s been better than Devin Booker, though.

— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) January 30, 2020

Devin Booker (27.1) and Bradley Beal (28.6) are the only players to average 27+ PPG and not make the All-Star team in the last 35 years. pic.twitter.com/2e7xVWaSKZ

— StatMamba (@statmuse) January 31, 2020

Devin Booker is the first player in NBA history to average at least 27 points and 6 assists on 60% TS and miss the All-Star game.

But don't worry. He's coming for that All-NBA slot…

— Wam Wooper (@scooperhoops) January 30, 2020

Booker vs. Westbrook vs. Mitchell

PIPM: Booker
RPM: Mitchell
RAPM: Mitchell
WS/48: Booker
WS: Booker
BPM: Booker
VORP: Booker

— Jackson Frank (@jackfrank_jjf) January 30, 2020

There were also the memes.

Devin booker and Bradley Beal watching the all star game from their couch pic.twitter.com/dSXPXgbdcd

— john (@iam_johnw) January 30, 2020

All star voters after snubbing booker for the third straight year: pic.twitter.com/xZypurVEfM

— Asher Josephs (@AsherJosephs) January 30, 2020

Devin Booker in 2023 when he gets snubbed of the all-star game for the 5th year in a row after averaging 32/6/6 on the 10th seed Sunspic.twitter.com/82k5NIthu4

— Rob (29-17) Rockets (@Hou5ton4L) January 30, 2020

Devin Booker the last month:

• 32 PPG, 7 APG, 4 RPG
• 53% FG, 36% 3P, 93% FT
• 16 games (9-7)

ALL STAR SNUB!!!! pic.twitter.com/sQcE8uwGH3

— UNO (@dlouno) January 30, 2020

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