While NBA pundits like Bill Simmons and former Phoenix Suns guard Raja Bell tabbed Devin Booker for the All-Star team this year, others considered the face of the Phoenix franchise “on the bubble” to earn his fifth All-Star nod.
It turned out that Simmons and Bell were on the money by picking Book, who was ultimately named an All-Star reserve for the fifth selection of his career.
Booker, as he is wont to do, deflected praise after the fact by crediting his teammates and team success for earning the nod instead of remaining on the bubble as some ESPN writers projected.
“I gotta thank the team,” Booker said on a recent broadcast after learning he’d made the All-Star team for the fifth time in his career. “It all comes back to team success.”
Booker said that he has “statistically had some better years” where he didn’t make it to the All-Star Game. He acknowledged that playing for a winner and having that team success is a big factor determining which players get recognized versus those who miss the cut.
Devin Booker stats and All-Star recognition
Book certainly has a point that team success needs to mix with individual success to give players the best shot at All-Star recognition. First, let’s look at Booker’s stats this year that earned him his fifth All-Star nod as the team defies expectations with a record well above .500.
Booker 2025-26 stats: 25.4 points, 6.2 assists, 4.0 rebounds, 45.6% shooting, 31.3% 3-point shooting
The major wart on Booker’s resume this season has been his 3-point shooting. His mark of 31.3% on long range tries is a career worst and well below his career average of 35.2%. Nevertheless, winning games helped overshadow that less-than-optimal figure.
So, for comparison's sake, let’s take a look at Booker’s pre-All-Star numbers from the last two seasons in which he didn’t make the All-Star team.
Booker 2024-25 stats: 26.2 points, 6.7 assists, 4.0 rebounds, 45.3% shooting, 33.9% 3-point shooting
Book’s stats from a season ago prior to All-Star Weekend are better or comparable across the board. The key difference to this year? The Suns before the All-Star break under head coach Mike Budenholzer were a mediocre 26-28.
As Booker said, "It all comes back to team success."
Booker 2022-23 stats: 26.6 points, 5.5 assists, 4.5 rebounds, 47.6% shooting, 35.8% 3-point shooting
Prior to last season, the most recent year in which Booker didn’t earn All-Star recognition was the 2022-23 season. While his assist totals were down compared to his All-Star campaign in 2026, his shooting efficiency was markedly better — especially from downtown.
That Suns team entered the break at 32-28, a much better mark than last season, but again not nearly as impressive as the team’s 31-20 mark at the time of writing this year.
NBA narratives change year to year, and it’s clear (as Book acknowledged) that he’s had some better statistical years without All-Star recognition while getting the nod this year as team success props up his case.
Booker is no doubt deserving of All-Star recognition this year, but his past numbers without getting the nod just goes to show how much winning helps shape a player’s case.
The Suns’ five-time All-Star understands that, and it’s not a surprise a team-first guy like Book would shout out his teammates for helping him get All-Star nod No. 5.