NBA Players and Fans React to 2021 All-Star Selection “Snubs”
Devin Booker - Joe Camporeale/USA TODAY Sports
By: Tialena Evans
This year’s NBA season is nothing short of thrilling plays and down to the wire games. The way these stars have been putting on a show for fans at home just goes to show the true passion they have for the game.
In just the first half of the regular season, there have been 24 games pushed to overtime with an average team score of 112 points. This is the highest point average in the league since the 1970-71 regular season.
While fans can’t be heard from the arena stands, their voices are still being heard loud and clear. The 2021 NBA All-Star roster was announced earlier this week and fans from all over took to social media to express who they believe deserved a sport on the All-Star roster.
Devin Booker and Trae Young are undoubtedly the biggest All-Star snubs.
— Ryley (@PrimetimeRyley) February 24, 2021
Trae: 27 PPG | 4 RPG | 9.5 APG
D-Book: 25 PPG | 4 RPG | 4 APG
Straight up disrespectful. pic.twitter.com/AApAoWr5xw
Even coaches shared their views on the snubs of this year’s selection.
Pop on DeRozan's All-Star snub: "I was disappointed he didn’t make it. I feel badly for him. He deserved to be on the All-Star team, in my opinion. He’s helped us win, put us in good position, he’s scored, he’s distributed the basketball, his leadership has been amazing."
— Tom Orsborn (@tom_orsborn) February 24, 2021
Let’s face it. Snubs happen, every year in fact. While there are only 12 spots for each conference to showcase the league's best, there just so happens to be more than 24 game-impacting players.
But when you think about whether a player has been “snubbed” from selection, it’s only fair to ask, “who would this player replace in the roster?”. Once you think about it, it’s a lot harder to rearrange the selections.
All 24 All-Star selections are well deserving and you could even argue swapping a starter for a reserve. A possibility in my book would be moving up James Harden to steal Kyrie Irving’s starting position, or even switching out Luka Doncic’s start for Damian Lillard.
With all the different possibilities once could have for the selections roster, one of the biggest snubs that stuck out like a sore thumb was the absence of Devin Booker. Before it was announced that he would be replacing the Injured Anthony Davis in the reserves, Booker was originally left off the All-Star roster which had fans, and even players, questioning the decision.
JR is extremely upset at Devin Booker’s All Star snub. #Thisisshitassman pic.twitter.com/KjFB1R6lAr
— sreekar (@sreekyshooter) February 24, 2021
Devin Booker is the most disrespected player in our league!!! Simple as that.
— LeBron James (@KingJames) February 24, 2021
Book not an all star? 🤣🤣🤣🤣 the foolery..... Stop it!!!!!!!!!!
— Draymond Green (@Money23Green) February 24, 2021
Don’t get mad Devin Booker, get EVEN!! Make a hit list, put all the West Coaches and their teams on it! And if I’m @CP3, take on the role of Drew “Bundini” Brown, be in his ear before every game saying “I bet he didn’t vote for you either”. Fireworks are coming, I’m popcorn ready
— Reggie Miller (@ReggieMillerTNT) February 24, 2021
How the Hell is @DevinBook not an ALL STAR?!!!!
— Jared Dudley (@JaredDudley619) February 24, 2021
Come on bruh!!!!! Stop with the politics!!! We all see it!!!!
Devin Booker should have been an NBA All-Star pic.twitter.com/sRut9kL1FG
— Hoops (@HoopMixOnly) February 23, 2021
Devin Booker should not need an injury replacement to get in as a reserve. For 3-4 years he heard "the Suns don't win enough." They're winning now. He's still producing like an All-Star. Stop moving the finish line.
— Matt Petersen (@TheMattPetersen) February 19, 2021
Devin Booker isn’t just an NBA All-Star, he’s one of the best players on the planet.
— Ball Don't Stop (@balldontstop) February 23, 2021
Supremely skilled, takes games over and gets better every year. Snubs happen, especially in todays talented league, but he shouldn’t be a snub. He’s the upper echelon of talent.
📸 @YazooMotif pic.twitter.com/2Iv1pFiUsB
Coincidentally, Booker has received both of his All-Star selections as an injury replacement—pretty demoralizing. He's averaging 25 points, 4.3 assists, 3.6 rebounds and shooting a career-high 50.3% from the field.
Alongside his fellow All-Star teammate Chris Paul, they have led the Phoenix Suns to a 20-10 record, which is the fourth best in the NBA. Booker is averaging almost 10 more points per game, yet Paul was able to steal the Phoenix reserve spot.
Very interesting.
Other notable player snubs include Trae Young, Domantas Sabonis, Mike Conley Jr., Brandon Ingram, and the list goes on. Trae Young would be among the top snubs, averaging 27.2 points, eighth in the league, and almost 10 assists per game, third overall in the NBA.
The 2021 NBA All-Star game will be held on Sunday, March 7th at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. On-court action will begin at 6:30 p.m. ET on TNT.
It'll be exciting to watch replacement Devin Booker prove to voters, once again, what the All-Star in himself is capable of. Maybe next year he’ll find himself a part of the original roster for once.
YOU MAY ALSO BE INTERESTED IN:
