Devin Booker Calls Out NBA Over All-Star Snub: 'Entertainment, Drama, Political League'

Devin Booker spoke about being snubbed from the 2025 NBA All-Star game. Booker went on to say that being named an All-Star is always a goal of his. Not being selected for the All-Star game reaffirms Booker's earlier point that the NBA is no longer about being the best player, but rather about who is more entertaining, can harness drama, and politick their way into these prestigious positions.

“It was a goal of mine, but this just re-proves the point that the NBA is different than the NBA I fell in love with. All the best players made the All-Star game, and now it’s an entertainment, drama, political league. But we're a part of it now. It pays well, so I guess we should be quiet about it... Put the best players in the game.”

Devin Booker has been named an NBA All-Star four times in his career. He made three consecutive All-Star teams between 2020 and 2022, and his latest nomination came last season. From Booker's comments, one can gather that he feels he should have been nominated more times than he already has.

This season, Devin Booker is averaging 25.5 points, 6.7 assists, 4.0 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game while shooting 44.4% from the field, 34.1% from the three-point line, and 89.3% from the free-throw line. Booker is averaging more points per game than at least seven other players who have been nominated to the 2025 All-Star game. So from that perspective, Booker's frustration is valid.

Perhaps one of the reasons that Booker did not get an All-Star nomination is due to the Phoenix Suns' poor performance this season, as they are currently ninth in the Eastern Conference with a 24-22 record. However, given that players like Victor Wembanyama and Stephen Curry have been nominated and they play on teams with far worse records, that explanation doesn't compute.

Another reason and this one is perhaps far more likely, could be that Booker had some of his shine taken away because he is playing alongside two other high-scoring former All-Stars; Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal. Both Beal and Durant are also players who have the ball in their hands far more than Booker at times, and this takes away a lot of the focus, and a lot of the credit away from Booker.

Booker himself has spoken about the frustration he feels having to share the ball with Durant and Beal. So clearly, this isn't something that is lost on the former Kentucky guard.

The truth of the matter is that Devin Booker's All-Star snub is very much a reflection of his current form as a player. His 25.5 points per game is his lowest scoring average since the 2017-18 season. Add to the fact that his scoring numbers haven't exactly contributed to winning basketball and that he is playing with two other elite players creates a situation where Booker is no longer the standout he was in years past.

Of course, as mentioned before, Booker's frustrations are valid. However, he must also be honest with himself about how this season has gone.