When it was announced that Damian Lillard was going to miss the All Star game this weekend, I assumed the NBA was going to be lame, cop out and put Paul George in in his place. I’m not saying George isn’t a great player. He’s one of my favorite players in fact. I love his two way game, his athletic ability, the way he goes hard all the time, I am a fan. But, he’s missed a ton of games, and he hasn’t had an All Star season this year. That’s facts.

So, when I saw that Devin Booker got the nod instead, I was pleasantly surprised. He is averaging over 27 points per game, he is in full control of the Suns offense and he deserves to be in this game. I know his team isn’t great record wise, but the Suns are far better than they have been in quite some time. They started the year hot too, winning 7 of their first 11 games. They are a long shot, but they’re still, technically, in the playoff race in the Varsity conference. And it’s because of Booker’s play. Not only is Booker doing his thing offensively, but he’s gotten far better on the defensive end this season as well. He is, at the very least, putting in effort. He’s trying to make plays. He’s getting steals here and there.

This nod is much deserved for Booker. I mean, the fact that he wasn’t picked as a reserve is puzzling to me. Jayson Tatum has had a great season so far, and the Celtics are good, but I’d take Booker before him. Brandon Ingram is having his best season to date, but his team has pretty much the same record as Phoenix, and Booker’s been this good since he got in the league. I am a humongous Russell Westbrook guy, but Booker is having an overall better year, full stop. Damontas Sabonis is a fine player, but if I’m starting a team tomorrow, I’d take Booker way before Sabonis. Even a guy like Trae Young, and I know he was voted a starter, I think Booker is a better overall player. Young is a great shooter, and a wizard with the ball. Booker would own him in a one on one matchup. He’s just as good a shooter, can handle the ball, is a solid passer and a far superior defender. His team is also wildly better, due to him, than Young’s team is right now.

I guess it goes without saying that I’m a Booker fan, but still, he shouldn’t have to be a replacement All Star. It’s not like last year when D’Angelo Russell was added right before the game. Devin Booker is a much more deserving player, and it shouldn’t have even come to this. As I have said, he’s gotten better every year. He goes into the gym and works on where he needs improvement, and also adds to his game. He’s become one of the leaders of a very, very young Suns team that may be better sooner than we thought. This is long overdue for Booker. I think this is also one of many All Star games he will be a part of. He’s earned this. He’s paid his dues. I mean, this wouldn’t even be a question if he was in the East. I bet he’d be voted an All Star starter if he was on a team like Orlando. But since he plays in the West, on the Suns, he has to be picked as a replacement.

Bright side, at least Devin Booker’s there, and will continue to be as long as he keeps improving and being the catalyst on a soon to be perennial playoff team.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet. 

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.