Devin Booker will replace Anthony Davis of the Los Angeles Lakers as a reserve in the 2021 NBA All-Star Game. Davis was named to his eighth-straight NBA All-Star Game on Wednesday. However, he will not be able to play due to injury.
Devin Booker makes his second-straight NBA All-Star Game Appearance
Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns will make his second-straight NBA All-Star Game in Atlanta this year according to Shams Charania, a senior lead NBA Insider/Writer/Analyst for The Athletic and Stadium.
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker has replaced Lakers’ Anthony Davis on the Western Conference All-Star team.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 24, 2021
He will join Chris Paul as one of two Suns players being represented in this year’s NBA All-Star Game. This is the first time two Suns players have made the NBA All-Star Game since Steve Nash and Amar’e Stoudemire represented the Suns in 2010.
This also marks the second-straight time that Booker made the NBA All-Star Game to replace an injured player. He made his first NBA All-Star Game appearance last year when Damian Lillard got injured according to Scott Polacek of Bleacher Report. Booker is currently averaging 25.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game in the 2020-21 NBA season.
Overview of Anthony Davis’ Replacement
It was not a bad pick to replace Davis with Booker. This is especially true when Phoenix currently has a record of 20 wins and 11 losses. It puts the Suns in fourth place in the Western Conference. However, this was probably not an easy choice. For example, the San Antonio Spurs do not have an NBA All-Star and sit in sixth in the Western Conference.
Other Possible NBA All-Star Replacements
There could be a particularly good argument for DeMar DeRozan to be in the NBA All-Star Game. He is currently averaging 19.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 6.9 assists per game in the 2020-21 NBA season. The 6.9 assists per game right now is a career-high for DeRozan. There are also other players that could have made it including Brandon Ingram of the New Orleans Pelicans and Jordan Clarkson of the Utah Jazz.
However, an argument can also be made that Booker has better stats than DeRozan. Furthermore, the Suns are playing better than the Spurs right now. Paul of the Suns also said that Booker should be in the NBA All-Star Game before Davis was replaced.
"Probably the most bittersweet of them all cause Book is an All-Star. It's not taking away from any of the guys that were named All-Stars, but our team, the Phoenix #Suns, we go as Book goes." Chris Paul on being named an #NBAAllStar an 11th time and Devin Booker not getting nod. pic.twitter.com/tFTLBDC7Z9
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) February 24, 2021
This is a valid argument and probably played a big role in Booker getting into the NBA All-Star Game. Coach Monty Williams of the Suns also believes Booker’s All-Star nomination is well-deserved according to the Associated Press:
“The situation at the time was a bit weird for us when Devin didn’t get the call, but we’re grateful for what has transpired over the last few hours and we’re just happy for Book,” Williams said.
Booker is one of the electrifying new talents in the NBA. He and Paul also represent a change in the Suns’ franchise, which has not been in the NBA playoffs since 2010. In the 2010 NBA playoffs, the Suns lost in the Western Conference Finals to Kobe Bryant and the Lakers.
Main Image: Embed from Getty Images
