NBA legend Charles Barkley expressed his preference for Jalen Brunson to be an NBA All-Star starter instead of Damian Lillard. Barkley, along with numerous fans, was surprised that Lillard was named as the starter over Brunson. Despite his admiration for Lillard, Barkley praised Brunson's development and described him as a great player who has made the New York Knicks relevant. Brunson has been averaging impressive stats this season with 26.

6 points, 6.5 assists, and a shooting percentage of 47.5%. In comparison, Lillard has averaged 25.3 points, 6.8 assists, and a shooting percentage of 42.6%. While Barkley may have overstated Brunson's impact on the Knicks, fans and reporters voiced their support for him and expressed their belief that he should have been chosen as an All-Star starter instead of Lillard. They highlighted Brunson's superior statistics and criticized the decision to overlook him.

Many fans and reporters felt that Brunson and other players like Tyrese Maxey were snubbed, suggesting that Lillard's selection was unjust.