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Damian Lillard suffered a strained groin in the Portland Trail Blazers game against the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night.
After the game, he says that he is definitely not playing in the All-Star game on Sunday and that Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker should be his replacement on the team.
Lillard says he won’t be able to play in the All-Star Game. Mentions Devin Booker as someone who should be considered as his replacement. https://t.co/WsmvzM7tRL
— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) February 13, 2020
Devin Booker was widely considered the biggest Western Conference snub by the players. And tonight, before the Suns-Warriors game, head coach Steve Kerr said that he originally voted for Booker to make the team.
It was the 15 West coaches who voted for the reserves, and they collectively selected Lillard, Russell Westbrook, Donovan Mitchell and Chris Paul ahead of Booker.
Now maybe Booker will be playing in the All-Star game on Sunday after all.
Injury replacements are named by the league office, not by the injured player unfortunately. Other potentially deserving candidates include... well, I don’t know. I can’t think of any right now.