RealGM

Better Player:

I expected this to be close considering both are borderline top 15 players in the league ATM

I think Kyrie is better minute for minute on the court but he has so many reliability issues you're better of going with Booker for cumulative value.

I would take Devin Booker because I know he'll be on the court, but Kyrie has always been better. Kyrie is a better shooter, gets to the rim more, is a much better playmaker/passer and it seems like he's even a better defender. Kyrie scores more efficiently, gets more assists, rebounds just as much, gets more deflections, more blocks. Can take over games in more ways. When I watch Booker, I don't see the natural high IQ and feel for the game in the same way. When operating on all cylinders, booker is pretty much as good a scorer as there is. But when Kyrie is at his best he's pretty much great at all phases of the game. I've seen him dominate games defensively (!), with just passing and defense, and of course going crazy scoring. He's a legit All-NBA 2nd team (should've/would've made a few more teams if not for health/personality stuff). In 2019-2021 to me he was the best point guard in the league after Steph and Dame (Luka is something else). Now guards are loaded, but he's been a top 15 guy this year, which is saying something because the league is ridiculously loaded right now.

Booker

I don't think Kyrie has always been better. Even if you account for his absences and off court issues Kyrie was playing at a normal All-Star level last year. Booker was playing at All-NBA when healthy last year.

Statlanta wrote:Booker

I don't think Kyrie has always been better. Even if you account for his absences and off court issues Kyrie was playing at a normal All-Star level last year. Booker was playing at All-NBA when healthy last year.

Last year was an off-year because he played so sporadically. 2017-2021, 2023 Kyrie clears Booker. Way better passer, better shooter, more efficient scorer

Kyrie's just a better player than Booker, period. I don't really see any argument for Booker over Kyrie unless you're talking about a certain small time frame. All the numbers, especially the advanced stats, bear this out.

BmanInBigD wrote:Kyrie's just a better player than Booker, period. I don't really see any argument for Booker over Kyrie unless you're talking about a certain small time frame. All the numbers, especially the advanced stats, bear this out.

Both awesome offensively. Booker being a good defender gives him the advantage.

Crives wrote:

BmanInBigD wrote:Kyrie's just a better player than Booker, period. I don't really see any argument for Booker over Kyrie unless you're talking about a certain small time frame. All the numbers, especially the advanced stats, bear this out.

Both awesome offensively. Booker being a good defender gives him the advantage.

Both awesome offensively...sure but Kyrie is better.

Both EPM and RAPTOR paint Kyrie as a more impactful defender.

The Suns have, historically, been significantly better defensively without Booker on the court.

2023: +3.8
2022: +4.5
2021: +4.6
2020: +7.2

Yeah, I don't think there is any real difference in their defense and I'd probably take Kyrie over Booker there when it matters. Certainly don't think that Bookers defense is something that can put him over Kyrie.

mdonnelly1989 wrote:I expected this to be close considering both are borderline top 15 players in the league ATM

The last team Kyrie Irving played for that had a better record with him in the lineup than they did with him in street clothes was the 2017/18 Boston Celtics and they were one game away from going to the Finals after he missed the entire playoff run.