The NBA eliminated participants from the three-point contest at the 2026 All-Star Game in Los Angeles on Sunday, and to the surprise of many, Devin Booker made the cut.
His inclusion was overshadowed by Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers, who hasn’t played this season due to injury but is clearly good to hoist some shots tonight.
Booker comes in despite three-point struggles this season
While Booker has actually won this game in the past, he did so at a time when he shot 38.3 percent from far back in 2018. So far, that equates to a career high from beyond the arc for the 29-year-old.
Compare that to this season, and a combination of injuries and new teammates has caused Booker’s shooting numbers to drop to 30.7 percent in this area. A career low, despite his 5.5 tries being close enough to his career average of six per game.
BOOK IT 👌
Devin Booker will participate in the 3-Point Contest at NBA All-Star! pic.twitter.com/SBppEjOxsH
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) February 8, 2026
So why does Booker come in? Well, the three-point contest is much different than a real game, and Booker will be there anyway, as he made it to the real All-Star game for the fifth time.
It’s also a competition he clearly enjoys, having competed four times in the past. There is also another way to see him enter, although it is unlikely that the player himself did it for this reason.
Booker’s visibility among more casual fans has waned since Kevin Durant left town, and while the Suns themselves are in a much better spot, they have fallen down the national hierarchy.
We’re not cynical enough to say he’ll be showing off a new pair of his “Booker 2s” during the game either, except we know he will, and why wouldn’t he?
But this really is a great opportunity for those tuning in to get a timely reminder that Booker is still doing his thing in Phoenix, and they’ll likely make the playoffs when all is said and done.
If he were to win the case a second time, that would also present an interesting wrinkle. Phoenix is hosting the All-Star game next season, so he could defend it there.
Mat Ishbia owns the WNBA franchise in The Valley and in the Mercury, and he might even take on one of their players like Stephen Curry and Sabrina Ionescu have done in the past.
It may be surprising to some fans, but really it’s just one more reason to attend this evening. Who doesn’t love watching Devin Booker do his thing? He has one of the most beautiful strokes in the game.
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