There is no doubt that Dillon Brooks has become the emotional engine for the Phoenix Suns during the regular season. A mantle he assumed the moment he landed from the Houston Rockets.
He's not their best player each night, and there are still some ugly parts of his game fans like to look past, but he has also been a massive success and helped steady the ship in The Valley.
Brooks fails to appear on first NBA All-Star voting ballot
Perhaps it was wishful thinking to believe Brooks had a chance at being a first time All-Star this season, we've already made the case, but the early returns are not good.
Lakers' Luka Doncic and Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo lead the NBA's first 2025-26 All-Star fan voting returns: pic.twitter.com/no0xNHMuXD
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 29, 2025
The 29-year-old failing to crack the top 20 Western Conference players after the first round of voting. To be fair, this is a popularity contest and most of these names you can't argue with.
It is nice to see a young fella with a bright future such as Stephon Castle in there, while fans at least had the sense to include Devin Booker (even if 15th feels a touch low for us here).
But Kawhi Leonard sitting in 20th after both the off the court issues that have surrounded him, not to mention a tough injury history that has looked better recently, seems harsh on Brooks.
Three Los Angeles Lakers in the top 10 is as unsurprising as it is depressing, but the real issue here is with Deni Avdija of the Portland Trail Blazers, all the way up at the dizzying heights of seventh spot.
He absolutely deserves to be included, but seeing a small market player ahead of both Kevin Durant and LeBron James is both heartening because it shows fans know ball, but also serves as another slap in the face to Brooks.
He doesn't have the upside of the Trail Blazer, and he's not as gifted offensively. But he has helped power the Suns past all expectations set out for them this season, and has emerged as a leader in Phoenix.
Then again, a villain isn't supposed to get the love of the fans anyway. Brooks' best hope of making it to the midseason exhibition is through the coaches voting him on, which in theory could still happen.
Opponents might hate to see him coming, but coaches understand he's the kind of player who love to have on your roster and don't want to play against.
Besides, you know he'd take the whole thing super seriously and not pass to LeBron and get a technical foul or something. Who doesn't want to see that? Do the right thing coaches.