Despite shattering preseason expectations to become a Western Conference playoff contender, the Phoenix Suns could wind up without a single All-Star representative in 2026.
Face of the franchise Devin Booker has garnered some support to earn his fifth career All-Star nod, chiefly from The Ringer’s Bill Simmons and former Suns All-Defense team recipient Raja Bell. ESPN reporters, meanwhile, have listed Book as “on the bubble” for All-Star recognition — and that was before his latest setback suffering an ankle sprain against the Atlanta Hawks that will force him to miss more time.
But another former Suns player and living legend is looking elsewhere on the roster and saying Dillon Brooks deserves to make the All-Star team for the first time in his career.
Charles Barkley says Dillon Brooks deserves to be an All-Star
“I think Dillon Brooks deserves to be an All-Star,” Charles Barkley said on ESPN. “I’m giving this guy his flowers.”
While Brooks will continue to be overshadowed by Booker at least in terms of All-Star recognition as it relates to the Suns as a team, Barkley makes a solid case.
“Everybody thought this was going to be a bad year for my Suns,” Barkley said, noting the offseason trade that sent superstar Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets.
Instead, the Suns are competitive and embracing a new cultural identity tied to Brooks’ hard-nosed play. Brooks isn’t just doing the dirty work, either.
The man otherwise known as “The Villain” is scoring a career-high 20.2 points per game on a career-best 44% shooting from the field. He’s been setting the tone on defense by averaging 1.1 steals per game as well. Oh, and he just had a career high 40 points in a win over the Detroit Pistons.
Barkley notes that Jalen Green has only played in four games all season due to injury, which helps Brooks’ All-Star case by having to make up for that key absence. “The Round Mound of Rebound” went on to compare Brooks’ impact with the Suns to that of Draymond Green with the Golden State Warriors.
“What Draymond does… did for the Warriors, it’s not on the stat sheet,” Barkley said. Not everything that those defensive stalwarts and tone-setters do on the court is reflected in the box score, so it’s refreshing to see NBA analysts look beyond stats alone to give credit where it’s due.
And it wasn’t just Barkley with his admitted Suns bias saying that Brooks deserves All-Star recognition this year. His "Inside" colleague Kenny “The Jet” Smith echoed what Chuck was saying as well.
“I would have to agree with you that Dillon Brooks is playing All-Star-caliber basketball,” Smith said.
Even with Booker sidelined again due to an ankle sprain, it’s logical to assume Book still has the best odds of being named an All-Star reserve for the Suns — if anyone on the team makes it.
But Barkley and Smith giving Brooks his flowers and noting that he’s a deserving candidate for a team defying its preseason expectations spreads the wealth of recognition.