Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum Call Devin Booker All-Star Snub 'Crazy'

Damian Lillard isn't starting the All-Star game, but earned his fourth straight selection – and sixth of his career, tying Clyde Drexler's Trail Blazers record – to the league's midseason exhibition when All-Star reserves were announced on Tuesday.

If C.J. McCollum, playing easily the best basketball of his career before breaking his wrist in mid-January, was healthy, it's safe to say the Western Conference coaches would have voted him in, too.

Then again, Devin Booker seemed a shoo-in to many given his longstanding track record of individual performance coupled with his team's ascent during Chris Paul's first season in Phoenix. Booker was bypassed for a spot in the All-Star game, though, leading a who's who of NBA superstars to jump to his defense.

Among the most vociferous advocates for Booker was Lillard, who mere hours before the reserves were announced watched him abuse Portland for 37 points on 17 shots in a blowout Suns victory.

"It was disappointing not to see Devin Booker on there," Lillard told the Trail Blazers' Casey Holdahl. “They’ve had a great season, obviously they blew us out last night, but they’ve been an up and down team over the years and this year they’ve taken off with Chris Paul. Obviously Chris Paul is who he is but I definitely think Devin Booker should have had a spot on that roster. To me, that’s out of control. Come on, that’s crazy."

Booker, remember, played in his first All-Star game last season as an injury replacement for Lillard. There's a chance he's chosen to replace Anthony Davis in Atlanta, too.

Deciding who will play in place of Davis is Adam Silver's job, but it's clear who McCollum would choose if it was left to him.

Damn @DevinBook really didn’t make it ? That’s craxy . Bruh really cold too smh. Sick world
— CJ McCollum (@CJMcCollum) February 24, 2021

Also coming to Booker's defense was LeBron James, who called him the NBA's "most disrespected" player – with Lillard a close second.

pic.twitter.com/MTf7EA5rUr
— All Trail Blazers (@SITrailBlazers) February 24, 2021

Note that Lillard, McCollum nor James single out the All-Star they believe has taken Booker's rightful selection.

Zion Williamson comes to mind due to his youth and the Pelicans' place in the standings, but his rise since Stan Van Gundy further empowered him as a playmaker last month is one of the biggest stories in basketball. Every other Western Conference All-Star's candidacy is even stronger, including Paul's.

Booker would probably prefer if his efforts were rewarded with an All-Star berth. Sentiments like these from competition like Lillard and McCollum, though, is no doubt a nice consolation.

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