- Bucks guard Damian Lillard was named an All-Star starter, ahead of Brunson
- NBA fans on social media also believed Brunson should have been picked
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Charles Barkley admitted he would have preferred Jalen Brunson to be an NBA All-Star starter instead of Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard.
The NBA released its list of starters Thursday night, and Barkley, the Hall of Famer and TNT analyst, along with countless fans were stunned that Lillard was named as the starter instead of Brunson.
“I will never throw shade at Damian Lillard,” Barkley said. “I like him as a person and as a player, but I would have liked to see Jalen Brunson as the starter.
‘I said last year: I can’t believe what a great player he has become. But last year he went to the Knicks. I thought that was a good addition. It’s one of the best free agent signings I’ve ever seen. No one knew he would be so good.
‘He’s been fantastic. He made the Knicks relevant.”
Charles Barkley said Jalen Brunson should have been an All-Star starter over Damian Lillard
Brunson averaged 26.6 points, 6.5 assists and shot 47.5 percent from the field this year
Lillard, on the other hand, averaged 25.3 points, 6.8 assists and shot 42.6 percent
After Brunson signed with the Knicks after playing for the Dallas Mavericks, New York advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals before being eliminated from the playoffs.
Considering New York was in the 2020-2021 playoffs when they were eliminated in the first round after a close series with the Atlanta Hawks, Barkley may be a bit wrong when he says Brunson made the Knicks “relevant” but the point remains that the NBA universe felt like the 27-year-old guard had been robbed.
“Jalen Brunson is the best point guard in the East and I’m tired of him being disrespected,” one fan said.
“Damian Lillard over Jalen Brunson is a crime,” NBA reporter Kevin O’Conner tweeted.
Fans and reporters on X also adamantly proclaimed that Brunson should have been the pick
“Dame Lillard on Jalen Brunson doesn’t make statistical sense,” another NBA reporter tweeted.
“West Starters got it right, but Lilliard starts over Jalen Brunson and that’s pure theft,” said another fan.
‘Jalen Brunson: 26.6 PPG, 6.5 APG, 47.5% FG Damian Lillard: 25.3 PPG, 6.8 APG, 42.6% FG Dame makes the All-Star Game as starter over Jalen Brunson MAKE IT MAKES SENSE?!,” another fan tweeted emphatically .
“Jalen Brunson/Tyrese Maxey were absolutely rejected. Take out Dame Lillard,” read another post.