Devin Booker is focused on one thing. It’s all he wants.
Marc J. Spears, a Senior NBA writer for Andscape and ESPN, put together a fascinating feature on Devin Booker.
Spears breaks down the Olympic run, his relationship with Kevin Durant, the adversity he’s faced in his career, and his ultimate goal of bringing Phoenix their first title.
Phoenix #Suns guard Devin Booker brings thirst for #NBA championship from Olympic experience. Four-time All-Star was unsung hero of USA Basketball. Now, all he wants is a title. @andscape @espn https://t.co/ILdBtFYQyv
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) November 20, 2024
Full Article: Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker brings thirst for NBA championship from Olympic experience
Here are the key takeaways that I gathered and condensed for your convenience.
Olympics: Going for Gold
Team USA head coach Steve Kerr called Devin Booker Team USA’s “unsung MVP” of the Paris 2024 Olympics for his unselfish play and defensive effort.
“Devin Booker is an incredible basketball player. Nobody asked about him. He was our unsung MVP. I just wanted to say that,” Kerr said.
The quote meant a lot to Booker, who had faced a similar situation of “sacrificing” earlier in his playing days at Kentucky as the sixth man.
“It meant everything. No one really asked him,” Booker recently told Andscape. “That was probably something that was weighing on his heart throughout the whole process. I said it a year prior what I wanted to do for that team and what we want to do for the country.
Booker was integral to Team USA’s success, averaging 11.7 points (4th on the team), 3.3 assists, and 2.2 3-pointers made while starting all six Olympic games, and had the best plus/minus (plus-130).
Experience + KD Relationship
Booker was asked about his takeaways from his time with Team USA and in the league.
“What I’ve learned in my 10 [NBA] years going about it is you pick up what you can work for you. But the level of detail, attention to detail, the intensity, it’s all consistent throughout everybody.”
As for Durant, Booker said the bond between the two Suns stars has “been close and is growing closer every day.” They live about five minutes from each other in the Phoenix area and hang out regularly at home and on the road.
Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images
“Booker now has two Olympic gold medals, four NBA All-Star appearances and one NBA Finals appearance. The only thing missing for the Suns’ second all-time leading scorer is an NBA championship. Since the Suns joined the NBA as an expansion team in 1968, they have yet to win a title.”
Devin Booker on his hopes of brining Phoenix their first-ever NBA title:
“It’s all I want. It’s all I want.”
Us too, Devin. Us too.
The Suns host Mikal Bridges and the Knicks tonight, and Devin Booker will be without his co-star yet again.