Devin Booker is Playing Like the Best Player in the NBA
Phoenix Suns SG Devin Booker continues to get better, even after finishing fourth in MVP voting and making All-NBA first team honors.
The Suns are off to a hot 3-1 start thanks to the play of Booker, as each game the Kentucky product has shown up in a big way:
Booker set a franchise record for most points scored through the first three games of the season with 96. As of Thursday, he is tied for fourth in league scoring with 32.5 points averaged per night. He's also shooting 88% from the free throw line.
Booker is on a tear to begin the new season, and for head coach Monty Williams, he's the most complete player in basketball:
“Probably the most complete player in the league right now. There are no weaknesses in his game and he’s scoring everywhere. He’s scoring in the post, he’s scoring from three, he’s scoring off the dribble, he’s been attacking the rim, getting to the basket, transition and really efficient," said Williams after the win over Golden State.
"I think he had 14 free throws tonight, like last year, he averaged seven. If he can get seven to ten every night like that, that’s a huge bonus for us but he got 14 tonight, but just really efficient and complete. He’s just playing at a really high level and intentional about it. I don’t think it’s forced at all. A lot of his offense is out of our stuff. Every once in a while, he’s got to go into his bag to get off a shot, but for the most part, it’s just been within the scheme of what we’re trying to do in our offense.”
Booker's response fits his demeanor in the pursuit of perfection in an imperfect game.
“I am just trying to get better at my craft and perfect it. As you guys know there is no perfect in this game, it is an ongoing pursuit for life. Even when I am retired and done, I will still be hooping. My dad still plays every day, four times a week. It is just in our blood. That is the beauty of this game, you can’t perfect it," said Booker.
Suns point guard Chris Paul chimed in as well, pointing to Phoenix's style of play and pace as a main component of Booker's early season success:
“He’s doing a great job of playing with pace, moving the ball and just the way the ball moves. It’s giving him the opportunity to attack in different ways. He’s handling the ball, give him a pick-and-roll. He’s catching and shooting threes. He’s catching in transition. He’s attacking," said Paul.
"I think the way we’re playing as a team is giving him the opportunity to show his full arsenal of what he can do.”
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