It was certainly an All-Star Weekend to remember for Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns, as he won the new format of the game itself, finished second in the 3-point contest and got to dap up Barack Obama.
With the midseason exhibition taking place in Phoenix next season, Damian Lillard has already said he wants Booker back in the 3-point contest for a rematch as well.
Booker reaching "Unc" status with younger players in the NBA
The 29-year-old franchise cornerstone didn't have it all his own way however, as a number of his teammates on the "Stars" roster he was a part of felt he raised the age profile of the group.
"Is that Devin Booker? On the young squad? He might bump it up a couple years."
— #NBAAllStar (@NBAAllStar) February 16, 2026
Chet Holmgren & Tyrese Maxey guess the average age of the USA Stars 🤩🤔 pic.twitter.com/obCNVNYoXf
Chief among them was Chet Holmgren of the Oklahoma City Thunder, who felt the average age of the roster had to rise with Booker added to it.
Then there was Tyrese Maxey of the Philadelphia 76ers, who claimed their team won because "they were young and turnt... and D-Book man". No longer one of the young up-and-comers Devin.
While this is meant in a tongue in cheek way from all involved, including ourselves, it does raise a more important question. Although the Suns have been one of the surprises of the season, they are still not going to win a championship in 2026.
Booker is clearly in his prime, and the next group of superstars in the league feel like he is not a part of their class. There's a reason we think that making the playoffs with the roster the Suns currently have would be his most impressive achievement to date.
Holmgren already has a championship to his name, while Maxey is the face of a 76ers roster that has cobbled together a blend of old and new as they rise in the Eastern Conference.
Which leaves Booker in The Valley with a scrappy group and a co-star in Dillon Brooks who he only had great things to say when speaking to the media at All-Star Weekend.
If Jalen Green could stay healthy that would be a bonus, but how long will this "old head" be happy exceeding modest expectations but not getting any closer to winning a ring?
This lighthearted fun in Los Angeles was exactly that, and Booker is quietly putting together another stellar campaign.
But one day soon he is going to realize there are only so many attempts at climbing the mountain that you get, while the younger guys below him have time on their side. Just ask Chris Paul.