Despite crushing preseason expectations to become a Western Conference playoff contender, the Phoenix Suns could end up without a single All-Star representative in 2026.
Face of the Franchise Devin Booker has received some support to earn his fifth career All-Star title, mainly from The Ringer’s Bill Simmons and former Suns All-Defense team winner Raja Bell. ESPN reporters, meanwhile, listed Book as ‘on the bubble’ for All-Star recognition — and he was for his latest setback: an ankle sprain against the Atlanta Hawks that will force him to miss more time.
But another former Suns player and living legend looks elsewhere on the roster and says Dillon Brooks deserves to make the All-Star team for the first time in his career.
Charles Barkley thinks Dillon Brooks deserves to be an All-Star
‘I Think Dillon Brooks Deserves to Become an All-Star’ Charles Barkley said on ESPN. “I give this man his flowers.”
While Brooks will continue to be overshadowed by Booker, at least in terms of All-Star recognition when it comes to the Suns as a team, Barkley makes a solid case.
“Everyone thought this was going to be a bad year for my Suns,” Barkley said, pointing to 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 doesn’t just do the dirty work, either.
The man also known as “The Villain” is scoring a career-high 20.2 points per game on a career-best 44% shooting from the field. He set the tone on defense by also averaging 1.1 steals per game. Oh, and he just had a career high of 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 as he has to make up for those key absences. “The Round Mound of Rebound” compared Brooks’ impact with the Suns to Draymond Green’s impact with the Golden State Warriors.
“What Draymond does … for the Warriors doesn’t show up in the stat sheet,” Barkley said. Not everything these defensive stalwarts and tone setters do on the court is reflected in the box score, so it’s refreshing to see NBA analysts looking beyond the stats to give credit where it’s due.
And it wasn’t just Barkley who, with his admitted Suns bias, said Brooks deserves All-Star recognition this year. His ‘Inside’ colleague Kenny ‘The Jet’ Smith also echoed what Chuck said.
“I 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 believe that Book still has the best odds of being named an All-Star reserve for the Suns — if anyone on the team makes the cut.
But Barkley and Smith giving Brooks his flowers and noting that he’s a deserving candidate for a team defying preseason expectations spreads the wealth of recognition.
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