Devin Booker added to NBA All-Star events. See which ex-Cats will join him.
When the roster for this year’s NBA All-Star Game was announced this month, Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker missed the cut.
The absence of the former University of Kentucky standout was perceived by many associated with the league as a snub. Phoenix General Manager James Jones released a statement saying, “I’ve played with and against multiple All-Stars in this league and Devin Booker is undoubtedly an NBA All-Star.”
If his exclusion was a mistake, it’s been corrected.
On Thursday, Booker was named to the All-Star Game for the first time as a replacement for Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard, who sustained a groin injury during a loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday.
Lillard even lobbied for Booker after the game. When discussing with reporters who should take his spot, Lillard said: “Hopefully somebody who should’ve been there (that) didn’t make it. Unfortunately, I had to be the fall guy. But hopefully Devin Booker or somebody like that’ll get the spot.”
Booker will join fellow former Kentucky star and seven-time All-Star Anthony Davis on Team LeBron James in Chicago. They’ll square off against ex-Cat Bam Adebayo, who’ll play in his first career All-Star Game as part of Team Giannis Antetokounmpo along with former Louisville star Donovan Mitchell.
Fan voting accounts for 50 percent of the total vote to determine the 10 starters for the All-Star Game, while votes from current players and media make up the other 50 percent. Reserves are chosen by NBA head coaches.
After the player pool was set, James and Antetokounmpo built their respective teams through a fantasy-style draft. League commissioner Adam Silver was responsible for naming Booker as Lillard’s injury replacement.
Booker will also replace Lillard in the Three-Point Contest. Booker, who is shooting 36.1 percent from the perimeter this year, won the event in 2018.
Skills Challenge
Adebayo will also be part of Saturday’s Skills Challenge during All-Star Weekend along with ex-Cat Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who’s replacing Derrick Rose.
Adebayo and Gilgeous-Alexander could conceivably end up facing off in the finals of the event, which features eight players who compete in a single-elimination tournament. The Skills Challenge winnows the field via one-on-one contests where players traverse a course that tests their dribbling, passing and shooting abilities. The finals match up a frontcourt and backcourt player.
Rising Stars game
Former Wildcat PJ Washington will team up with former Murray State phenom Ja Morant on the United States team in the Rising Stars game on Friday night. Ex-Cat Tyler Herro was originally slated to suit up for the U.S., but after injuring his ankle last week was replaced by Collin Sexton.
Gilgeous-Alexander, a native of Canada, will compete for the World team.
NBA All-Star Weekend
FRIDAY
7 p.m.: All-Star Celebrity Game (ESPN)
9 p.m.: Rising Stars game (TNT)
SATURDAY
8 p.m.: Skills Challenge, Three-Point Contest and Slam Dunk Contest (TNT)
SUNDAY
8 p.m.: All-Star Game (TNT)
