A Devin Booker All-Star Conspiracy Theory for the Phoenix Suns

So then, why Devin Booker?

The injury being what it is (or as serious as he wanted to make it), why then would Damian Lillard not only take himself out of the All-Star festivities immediately following a game without any “official” word from the team, but then specifically mention Devin Booker’s name as a potential replacement?

Well, what if they know each other really well – much better than the general public could every know?

Devin Booker, D’Angelo Russell, and Karl-Anthony Towns might be pubic besties, but what if Book and Lillard are still the kind of friends who play NBA2K every night but just don’t share any public photos of their show downs?

For all we know, not only could the two be very good friends (to the point that Lillard might respect Booker more than others in the Western Conference), but Damian in particular could feel a particular kinship with Book and respect his game to a similar level that, at least on a national-level, only Phoenix Suns fans feel or could possibly understand.

Then again, Lillard knows a lot  of really good players around the league. But what if he wanted  Devin Booker in the game?

Phoenix Suns

While so many players were close with and knew Kobe Bryant, Book may have been the most prominent young  player in the league to have had a relationship with the superstar (and was also anywhere close Kobe’s level of talent) who also grew up with Bryant being a specific idol.

For any human being, when your idol passes away, a part of you dies with him/her. But then imagine that you knew,  and at least in the case of a professional athlete, worked with  your idol, how painful that loss could be.

Devin Booker visibly cried on the basketball court following Kobe’s passing, evidence enough that the connection between the two was truly close.

For this, Lillard may believe that Booker absolutely deserved to wear Kobe’s number 24 to represent the now lost star.

Extendedly, for as fantastic as his season is this thus far has been for Book (26.4 points per game, 4.2 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 49.6% from the field, and 35.8% from beyond the arc), it is very likely that if he put those very same numbers up next season when Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson return, the Suns star would need to have a much  better team around him in order to be seriously considered for an All-Star position – something that is absolutely no guarantee, and something that Lillard has been dealing with himself in Portland for ‘lo these many years.

Lest we forget: Lillard also specifically  mentioned Booker’s name in his post game press conference, which he may have known would have basically forced the league’s hand.

The decision of a replacement came down to Adam Silver and Kiki Vandeweghe, and there is no doubt that they (as well as the league office in general) are well aware of the season that Devin Booker is having statistically, as well as the dreadful plight of the Phoenix Suns franchise (thus most specifically, the fan base).

However, with such a respectable player such as Lillard backing out, his public declaration of Devin Booker as a potential replacement probably would have held some significant sway.