When the NBA All-Star Game reserves were announced, it was shocking to many that it didn’t include former Kentucky star Devin Booker.
Booker is currently averaging 27 points, 6.4 assists, and 4 rebounds while shooting 51% from the field and 36.8% from three.
Booker is putting up better numbers than three of the Western Conference reserves that were selected to the All-Star Game.
Gerald Bourguet noted that, “no NBA player had ever averaged 27 points and 6 assists on 60 TS% and missed the All-Star game until Booker”.
Several NBA players including former Cat, Karl-Anthony Towns took to Twitter reacting to Booker being snubbed of an All-Star appearance.
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
Even John Calipari had something to say about Booker not being selected to the game.
Use it as fuel, @DevinBook. We all know you should be in that game and will be. Keep doing your thing. https://t.co/1boAbFSU0V
— John Calipari (@UKCoachCalipari) January 31, 2020
Booker was in front of the media for the first time on Friday after getting the news and he had this to say about not being selected.
“The NBA is different than the game I fell in love with at the beginning… all the best players being in the All-Star Game… Now it’s an entertainment, drama, political filled league.”
“It just reproves the point that the NBA is different than the game that I fell in love with at the beginning, of all the best players being in the All-Star game ...”
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 1, 2020
—Devin Booker on not making the All-Star roster (via @DuaneRankin) pic.twitter.com/Q3cOapXO4C
I really liked the way Booker handled this situation. He didn’t beg to be in the game, just a humble understanding that he was robbed of being an All-Star this season.
Even though Booker isn’t going to be an All-Star this season, he will no doubt make an All-NBA team.