Phoenix Suns' Devin Booker's All-Star fate will rest with NBA coaches vote, not fans

NEW ORLEANS – Phoenix Suns star guard Devin Booker’s chances of receiving his fourth NBA All-Star selection will once again come down to the voting of the head coaches.

That’s how he got his third one two years ago. The coaches vote in two backcourt players, three frontcourt players and two wild cards regardless of position.

TNT will announce the All-Star starters on Jan. 26 and the reserves Feb. 2 for the Feb. 18 NBA All-Star game in Indianapolis.

Not so sure Booker is going to get in by way of the coaches even though he’s All-Star worthy, but that might not wind up being a bad thing.

Will explain later.

Booker’s certainly not making it as a Western Conference starter even with a strong media and player vote.

Fans make up 50% of the starter vote and they have him ninth for West starting backcourt in the third vote returns, with two remaining days to vote.

Two backcourt players are voted in as starters. Mavericks point guard Luka Doncic and Warriors point guard Stephen Curry are 1-2 in the West starting backcourt fan vote.

Suns superstar forward Kevin Durant will likely receive the necessary all-star starter votes in making what would be his 14^th All-Star appearance. Three frontcourt players are chosen as starters as Durant is third in the fan vote behind Lakers forward LeBron James and Nuggets center Nikola Jokic.

Now back to Booker.

He’s having another great season that started with injuries and continued with him taking on the role of primary team facilitator.

Booker’s averaging 26.2 points on 48.3% shooting (36.9% from 3) and a career-high 7.8 assists to 2.9 turnovers.

The Suns (22-18) aren’t playing up to preseason expectations, but they have won eight of their last 11 games – and are 19-12 with Booker on the floor.

Phoenix plays Friday at New Orleans (25-17). The two teams are 8-3 in their last 11 games.

Winning was a driving factor in Booker becoming a three-time All-Star. He made it the first two times as an injury replacement, but the third time came during the Suns historic 64-win season in 2021-22.

The Suns don’t have the wins to support his All-Star campaign this time, but he’s thrived in a new role with a team that has been plagued with injuries for most of this season so far.

They’re now healthier, finding their footing and Booker has been a major contributor.

He’s posted two double-doubles and three 30-point games in the month of January. The Suns are 4-1 in those games with the loss coming against the Clippers (26-14).

Booker is one of the NBA’s best players, but will the coaches vote him in as an All-Star reserve?

Never say never, but don’t count on it.

Remember, the coaches vote in two backcourt players, three frontcourt players and two wild cards regardless of position for the reserves in each conference.

Let’s start with the West backcourt reserves options.

Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will get the nod. He’s fourth in the NBA in scoring at 31 points on 55.2% shooting for a team that’s second in the West.

That’s a done deal.

The second mandatory guard slot will likely go to Timberwolves shooting guard Anthony Edwards, but Clippers point guard James Harden, Mavs guard Kyrie Irving and Kings point guard De’Aaron Fox will be in the running.

Edwards is one of NBA’s rising stars approaching superstardom.

Dynamic. Explosive. Young. Exuberant.

He’s having a career year in averaging 26 points on 46.2% shooting, 5.4 rebounds and five assists – and his team is winning.

Big time. Minnesota stands atop the West and Edwards is the main reason why.

Next, three frontcourt reserves.

Lakers center Anthony Davis and Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard for sure.

The third guy? Could see Clippers forward Paul George getting the nod. Kings big Domantas Sabonis perhaps, but don’t rule out Spurs rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama.

San Antonio is last in the West, though.

On second thought, don’t think Wembanyama gets in, but when the coaches see he’s putting up similar numbers to James when James was a rookie, the coaches will likely take that into their voting criteria.

James averaged 20.9 points on 41.7% shooting (29% from 3), 5.9 assists, 5.5 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 0.7 blocks, but didn’t make the All-Star game.

It’s the only time James missed in a Hall of Fame career that began in 2003-04. He was the future face of the league then.

The 7-footer Wembanyama is the future face of the league now who is averaging 19.8 points, 10.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.1 steals and leads the league in blocks at 3.1.

Whoever the third person is will impact Booker’s chances because the players left to choose from will be thrown into that wild card mix.

Those two wild cards are going to be tough calls.

Booker. Irving. Harden. Fox. Sabonis. Wembanyama.

Oklahoma City forward Chet Holmgren maybe because of how well the Thunder are doing.

Typically the team with the best record in the conference has more than one All-Star.

T-Wolves big Karl-Anthony Towns doesn't have crazy numbers, but he is averaging 21.8 points on 51.4% shooting, connecting on a career-best 43.5% from 3 to go along with 8.8 boards.

Booker may wind up being the odd man out, but he may gladly take that All-Star break to get away, relax, heal up and gear up for that final regular season push into the playoffs.

All-Star selections are nice, but if Booker had the choice of a fourth one or a first NBA championship, he’d take the chip.

Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Booker among many great players for NBA coaches to consider for West