The Phoenix Suns continue to surprise people. After starting the year with long odds to be in the playoff mix, [sports books are giving Arizona’s team a good chance to make the playoffs.](https://sportsbook.fanduel.com/navigation/nba?tab=playoffs) Sure, the additions of Mark Williams and Dillon Brooks have played a major part in the team’s strong season, [which continued last game, where they beat the NBA Cup Champion New York Knicks](/suns-scores-results/96347/game-recap-phoenix-suns-hold-on-late-to-beat-new-york-knicks-112-107). However, the main man steering the ship is franchise cornerstone Devin Booker, who fans clearly believe should be an All-Star this season after not being one last year.
Fans’ strong support of Booker returning to the All-Star game does not surprise me. While Booker had been struggling over the last month, since the new year started, both his efficiency and scoring are up. Averaging 25.6 points per game on 47.8% shooting from the field and 34.6% from three. He’s having his best statistical month since October, and the team is tied for the second-best record in the NBA in 2026 at 4-1.
While he averaged more points, assists, rebounds, and shot better percentages from the field last season, the team has the winning, and his clear position as the team’s best player to help him with his case. While Kevin Durant was an All-Star last season, it would have been hard for coaches and voters to give a team that was low in the standings multiple All-Stars.
Narratively, Booker has a strong case.
As we’ve seen in years past with NBA awards, the story of the player or team can play a significant role in who receives honors. Not many were giving the Suns a chance to make the playoffs, let alone the play-in tournament, before the year. Now the team sits firmly in the seventh seed in the Western Conference and has been creeping ever so closer to the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets’ spots in the standings to jump into the top six of the conference, avoiding the play-in completely.
Whether you feel he should be an All-Star starter or reserve, Booker will likely have to get into the game as a reserve, based on the last round of fan voting and the amount of weight it holds in who will be starters. While there is still time to vote, his chances of being a starter don’t look good.
Do you think Booker should be an All-Star starter or reserve? If you don’t think he should be an All-Star, why not?