Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker is heading to Atlanta after all, with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announcing today that he will replace the injured Anthony Davis in the 2021 All-Star Game.
The 24-year-old earns his second-straight All-Star selection on the back of an impressive season so far for the Suns, averaging a team-high 24.7 points, 4.3 assists and 3.8 rebounds on a career-high 50.1 percent shooting and 38.1 percent from 3-point range in 26 games this season.
Devin Booker is averaging 24.7 PPG and was not selected to the All-Star game. It would be his 3rd season averaging 24 PPG without being selected to the All-Star game, the most in NBA history. (Among qualified seasons only) pic.twitter.com/FMN6X76NO8
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) February 24, 2021
Davis will miss the All-Star Game after suffering a right calf strain against the Denver Nuggets on Feb. 14, with the Lakers' star set to be re-evaluated following the All-Star break.
Booker joins teammate Chris Paul as an All-Star after leading the Suns to the league's fourth-best record at 20-10, the team's best start through 30 games since the 2007-08 season.
It also marks the first time that the Suns have multiple All-Star selections since 2009-10 when Steve Nash and Amar'e Stoudemire were selected for the All-Star Game in Dallas.
Davis' Laker teammate LeBron James expressed his support for Booker to be named an All-Star after he was initially not selected as a reserve by the league's head coaches.
Devin Booker is the most disrespected player in our league!!! Simple as that.
— LeBron James (@KingJames) February 24, 2021
"There's no doubt about it. No one can debate that Book's not an all-star," Suns head coach Williams said earlier this week. "End of story. The impact on winning, the numbers and we have a few wins. So from my perspective, I don't think you'll find any coach in the league that would debate that he isn't an All-Star. End of story."
According to NBA rules, when a player is selected to the All-Star Game and us unable to participate, a replacement player from the same conference is to be selected by the Commissioner in his place.
Glad that was corrected
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) February 24, 2021
Devin Booker is a 2x #NBAAllStar
Congrats, @DevinBook pic.twitter.com/6MpA9wXPsL
The NBA All-Star Game rosters will be selected during the NBA All-Star Draft, where team captains Kevin Durant and LeBron James will draft from the eligible pool of players named as starters and reserves. The Draft will air on Thursday, March 4 at 8 p.m. ET on TNT.
The views on this page do not necessarily represent the views of the NBA or its clubs.