NBA: Phoenix Suns All-Star Devin Booker Received Validation From Former Champion

There is no question Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns is one of the most gifted players in the NBA today. The high-scoring guard has an elite offensive skill set and can easily maneuver around any defense thrown against him. He has the athleticism to take it hard inside the paint, but he also has the deadeye accuracy of a sniper from beyond the arc.

His stellar performance in the regular season has caused a league-wide reaction of disbelief when he was snubbed for the All-Star game. He eventually made it as an injury replacement for Damian Lillard, but prior to the last-minute change, the entire NBA couldn’t believe the outcome. Per Arizona Sports, Booker revealed that although it was a difficult experience, he was able to get enough support from across the league.

Players, coaches and fans reached out to him saying how he should have been an obvious choice for the game. Booker said that one of these people was former NBA Champion Chauncey Billups. “I grew up idolizing this guy and for him to reach out to me and tell me it was (expletive) and I should be in the game — hearing that from Chauncey ‘Big Shot’ Billups, it means that much more to me.”

Billups is known to be one of the toughest guards to play in the league. He was a prolific defender and he never stepped away from the big moments of the game. He was a clutch performer for the Detroit Pistons where he was named the 2004 Finals MVP in their series against the heavily favored LA Lakers. Even after achieving the top of the league, Billups’ first All-Star game only took place in 2006 where he was a reserve player off the bench.

With everything that Billups has achieved, his words of encouragement validate the hard work and talent Booker posses. The fifth-year guard, after all, scored 70 points in a game and continues to torch defenders day in and day out. He is currently averaging 26.4 points, 6.3 assists and shooting 49.6% from the field.