What they’re saying: Was Devin Booker snubbed in the NBA All-Star Game?

Kevin Durant is in. Devin Booker is out. The 2025 NBA All-Star Game reserves skipped over Booker, presumably for his team’s position at 24-22 and Kevin Durant getting the nod as a starter.

It’s also Booker’s least efficient shooting season in the past eight years. So was he snubbed?

Victor Wembanyama of the 11th-seeded Spurs was the only reserve pick in the Western Conference who is currently playing for a team sitting outside the play-in spots as of Friday morning.

Anthony Edwards for the seventh-seeded Timberwolves and Cade Cunningham for the eight-seeded Pistons were the only other reserve picks who play for teams that aren’t in non-play-in playoff spots.

What we’re trying to say is that coaches don’t vote for players on middling teams, such as the No. 9 seed Phoenix Suns (24-22).

That reality also hit NBA assist leader Trae Young, who is averaging 22.5 points and 11.4 assists per game for the Atlanta Hawks but shooting just 40% overall for a sub-.500 club.

Ditto for NBA rebounding leader Domantas Sabonis of the 24-23 Sacramento Kings. He’s averaging 20.9 points and 14.5 boards per game while shooting 61% from the field.

The most proof that numbers don’t mean much: For a miserable Charlotte team, LaMelo Ball is putting up 28.2 points, 7.3 assists and 5.3 rebounds per game.

Philadelphia star Tyrese Maxey missed out despite averaging 27.1 points and 6.0 assists per game trying to drag the 19-27 Sixers to wins.

Booker’s All-Star reputation couldn’t pull him into the reserve pool, but neither did the aura of perennial All-Star Kyrie Irving playing for the No. 8 seed Dallas Mavericks.

Reactions from Devin Booker’s 2025 NBA All-Star Game snub

The Suns’ social media accounts pointed out that Booker is one of three guards in the Western Conference with at least 14 30-point games this season, joining All-Stars Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Edwards.

Booker is also joined by MVP candidate Nikola Jokic as one of two players in the top 15 in the conference in both scoring and assists per game.

Here’s who else considered Booker among the snubs.

AndScape’s Marc J. Spears:

Statistically, Booker definitely is deserving as he is 11th in the NBA in scoring at 25.5 points per game and 12th in assists per game with 6.7. With Suns teammate Kevin Durant an All-Star starter, Booker was likely a victim of being on a team that West coaches probably feel didn’t deserve two All-Stars due to their average 24-22 record.

Yahoo! Sports’ Jack Baer:

The Suns remain a bit of a mess, but Booker ain’t the problem. Just like when Phoenix was winning 50-plus games per season, Booker is scoring at a high clip while chipping in more than his fair share of assists.

The NBA has made pretty clear it doesn’t think much of big numbers on bad teams, but that doesn’t really hold with Booker, whose Suns are still 24-22, thanks to primarily him and Kevin Durant.

The Athletic’s Mike Vorkunov and Eric Koreen:

Booker not an All-Star? It doesn’t seem possible. But it’s true.

It’s hard to say Booker has a strong case this year, too. Yes, his per-game numbers are impressive, but he hasn’t displayed the same sort of production we’ve come to expect. His shooting numbers have tanked; his effective field goal percentage is his lowest since his third season in the NBA. The Suns have had their issues this year — they’re just 24-22 and in ninth in the West — so it’s hard to say Phoenix deserves a second All-Star this season beyond starter Kevin Durant.

SB Nation’s Ricky O’Donnell

— Did not include Booker in a ranking of nine players who were snubbed

CBS Sports’ Brian Botkin

— Did not include Booker in a ranking of six players — three from each conference — who were snubbed

Sports Illustrated’s Liam McKeone

— Did not include Booker among five snubs

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