The picks for the NBA All-Star Game this season have drawn quite a mixed reaction from the fanbase. Fans were happy to see players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Giannis Antetokounmpo included as starters. At the same time, they were upset about the likes of Stephen Curry being included! Mostly because the Splash Bro was picked ahead of other players having even more stellar seasons. Amid the unrest, an old video of the Phoenix Suns‘ Devin Booker has resurfaced, showcasing his unfiltered reaction to being snubbed.

Devin has been one of the best players in the NBA since he joined the league. Despite this, the Phoenix star has only made 4 All-Star appearances. And when asked about being glossed over, Booker had not held back his true feelings.

“It was always a goal of mine. But it just reproves the point that the NBA is different than the game I fell in love with. All the best players made the All-Star game… Now it’s an entertainment, drama, political-filled league. But we’re a part of it now. You know it pays so well, so we should stay quiet about it,” Booker had said, not mincing his words in the slightest.

Even though this video is nearly half a decade old, it still rings true!

And this just goes to further belabor the fanbase’s frustrations with the All-Star picks this year. But seeing this video resurface lit a new fire under the restless NBA community online. And in typical fashion for the internet, they did not hold back!

Resurfaced video of Devin Booker has fans bashing the NBA for All-Star drama

Some fans have disagreed with the NBA’s method of picking All-Stars for a while now. One user took their protests a step further than most. “Completely agree. That’s why I’ve stopped watching,” they wrote under the video of Booker ranting. Last year, there was an outcry against Stephen Curry being selected for the All-Star game because fans believed he was undeserving. Despite this, he again made the All-Star list this year, as a starter, no less!

In the resurfaced video from 2020, Devin Booker also said- the criteria for selection should be that the best players play in the All-Star games. “It should be based on stats and position leaders,” wrote one user in agreement with Booker. We feel the same way, as leaving the selection solely up to votes removes the merit aspect of the All-Star Game.

Some fans were also mad about other players snubbed by the NBA this year.

“I hear no lies lol. So the coaches mean to tell me Jalen Williams is better than Book or [De’Aaron] Fox? FOH,” wrote one such fan, who believed the Suns and Kings’ point guards should’ve both been selected ahead of Jalen Williams. Another agreed with a slightly different take, “Yeah man this is crazy. Him and [Domantas] Sabonis not making it is crazy wild.” 

Fox’s exclusion is made all the more baffling when you remember that he has slightly better numbers this season than he did when he made the All-Star Game back in 2022/23! Whereas, the often-overlooked Sabonis is leading the league in rebounds this year at 14.5 per game while scoring 20+ points.

Fans have often lamented that a team’s subpar performance often leads to a player being snubbed for the All-Star game. Even if the player is putting up great stats individually. Analyst Kenny Smith agrees with this, “I think [Sacramento] started too slow. That must’ve hurt his chances,” he reasoned. Another such exclusion from the storied game is LaMelo Ball. Averaging 28.2 points and 7.3 assists per game, he definitely has the stats to be selected. However, his team’s 12-32 record may be what held him back this year.

There were a fair few detractors saying things like, “Maybe play better?” However, they were still overwhelmingly in the minority, as most users sided with Devin Booker. And even if they may be right about Booker, there are still a lot of deserving players who were snubbed. Like the names mentioned above.

All in all, the NBA needs to address their method of picking All-Stars. And there’s no better proof than a video from nearly 5 years ago still being relevant today!