Just one day after Devin Booker found out he inexplicably missed out on the All-Star game, the Phoenix Suns play against the Oklahoma City Thunder and Chris Paul, the man who took Booker’s spot.
Devin Booker is the only player in NBA history to average 27 points per game, six assists per game, and have a true shooting percentage of 60% and not make the All-Star game. There are more superlative stats where that came from, but the Phoenix Suns’ front fan was once again snubbed this year from All-Star recognition.
And while so many fans, players, and talking heads out there are lamenting the poor outcome, Devin Booker is probably ticked off more than anyone.
It essentially came down between three spots for four players: Devin Booker, Donovan Mitchell, Russell Westbrook, and Chris Paul. I would argue that Devin Booker’s stats clearly make him worthy above all three of those other guys, but that is a post for another time.
The fact is, Chris Paul has the worst stats this year out of all those players, and he made the team over Booker.
Enter the NBA scheduling gods: Devin Booker’s Phoenix Suns play Chris Paul’s Oklahoma City Thunder tonight and Book might go for 100.
Watch out, Wilt. Booker is going to play angry against the guy who unjustly took his spot likely due to nothing more than name recognition, and the results might be scary.
Okay, Wilt’s single game scoring record is probably safe. And likely so is Kobe’s 81. And in all seriousness, so it Booker’s own 70. But between the passing of his idol and being absolutely disrespected by coaches’ All-Star voting around the league, there is bound to be a lot of pent-up rage in Devin Booker, and I wouldn’t want to be standing in his way when he unleashes it.
Deandre Ayton played angry against Luka Doncic‘s Dallas Mavericks and it led to a magnificent performance and a 29 point blowout victory.
Now it is Devin Booker’s turn to take out all that frustration on the man who stole his All-Star spot. It may cause him to play out of his mind or it may cause him to play out of control, but expect to see a lot of aggression and a lot of shots.
The Thunder are a one-point favorite tonight, but I can’t find a prop bet on the over/under for number of points Booker will score.
Oddsmakers probably didn’t set one because they know just as well as I do that whatever they set it at, it will hit the over.
They know Booker has something to prove tonight, and prove it he will.