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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 the list of starters on 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’m never going to throw shade at Damian Lillard,’ said Barkley. ‘I love him as a person and as a player, but I would have loved to see Jalen Brunson as a starter.

‘I said this last year, I can’t believe what a great player he’s turned into. But he went to the Knicks last year I was like that’s a good signing. It’s one of the best signings I’ve ever seen for a free agent. Nobody knew he was going to be that good.

‘He has been fantastic. He’s made the Knicks relevant.’

Charles Barkley said Jalen Brunson should have been an All-Star starter over Damian Lillard

Brunson has averaged 26.6 points, 6.5 ᴀssists, and sH๏τ 47.5 percent from the field this year

Lillard on the other hand has averaged 25.3 points, 6.8 ᴀssist, and sH๏τ 42.6 percent 

Following Brunson signing with the Knicks after playing for the Dallas Mavericks, New York advanced to the Eastern Conference Semifinals before being eliminated from the playoffs.

Seeing as though New York was in the playoffs back in 2020-21 when they suffered a first round elimination after a thrilling series with the Atlanta Hawks, Barkley may be slightly off the mark by saying Brunson made the Knicks ‘relevant’ but the point remains that the NBA universe felt the 27-year-old guard was robbed.

‘Jalen Brunson is the best point guard in the east and I’m tired of him getting disrespected,’ one fan said.

‘Damian Lillard over Jalen Brunson is a crime,’ tweeted NBA reporter Kevin O’Conner.

Fans and reporters on X also adamantly proclaimed that Brunson should have been the choice 

‘Dame Lillard over Jalen Brunson doesn’t make statistical sense,’ tweeted another NBA reporter.

‘West Starters are on point But Lilliard starting over Jalen Brunson is pure robbery,’ 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 a starter over Jalen Brunson MAKE IT MAKE SENSE?!,’ another fan emphatically tweeted.

‘Jalen Brunson/Tyrese Maxey were absolutely snubbed. Take out Dame Lillard,’ read another post.