Devin Booker

[MrMiyagi]

A rich mans JJ Redick

Which is a hell of a player, but not on par with the likes of Klay. His defense makes James harden look like Hakeem.

Not really, but it's pretty terrible.

I'm not sure if you've watched him play much, because he is so much more than "A rich mans JJ Redick" already at 19. It's kind of like saying Curry is a rich man's Steve Kerr because they have similar career FG, 3pt and FT percentages.

It depends how much respect you have for Redick's game. The guy was awesome last season and can slide to PG and SG.... Similar to Booker.

I made this comparison earlier this year and I know a few fellow Suns fans didnt like it..but I actually like Redick and I dont think my comparison was an insult to Booker.


Yes... At 19... Booker is a rich man's Redick in my book.. But if he continues to improve he can surpass that for sure.

Actually.. After watching Booker more closely.. He has that Michael Redd / Allan Houston element in his game too.. So a rich man's Redick with Redd/Houston elements is a star player either way.

I feel like Redick doesn't have a very diverse game, but he's probably the best at what he does. He runs off of screens and finds open spots on the floor better than just about anyone (not just from deep, but cutting to the basket as well), and although his defensive advance stats aren't great, he's a pest on D. I don't think he takes any breaks when he's on the floor. Maybe it's just that I've gotten use to him playing with CP3 that I think that's all he can do, but I don't really feel he "can slide to PG". I mean, if you watch his highlights, you see the same motions over and over and over. Yes when the designed motion doesn't work he's smart enough to pass or dribble out of it, but he's more of a playexecutor than a playmaker. I feel Booker's handle is much better and he knows how to use his body to create space (and this might be true of Redick, but he doesn't quite have the size to be as effective).

I mean, if Booker has an aspect to his game that Redick doesn't, is it really fair to say he's a "rich man's Redick"? Going back to Steph, don't we compare him to Nash more than Kerr? Both Nash and Kerr are among the NBA's best marksmen, but Nash was a world class playmaker. Kerr, not so much.

Booker is in more of the Brandon Roy, Ray Allen (in his Seattle days) vein.

[ElectricMayhem]

Top 5 overall potential? He has top 5 overall potential all-time.

Top 5 NBA potential? He has top 5 modern atheletr potential.

Are we sure he's not already a top 5 human being?

He's a top 5 all-time mammal, hands down. I mean, I'm sure we all remember that marmot from back in the 1640s that was pure amazing. Oh, and Lucy doing that whole transition-to-human thing? That was pretty awesome, but other than that, can't think of any other nipple-suckers in the same class as Devin Booker.

[bwgood77]

I really don't want to hype him too much. Yes, his defense needs work. But damn is he impressive. As a starter last season he averaged 17 points 3 rebounds and 3.5 assists, and he looked good doing it. This preseason he looks even better, and has better players around him. I don't think people realize he played 672 minutes with Ronnie Price and 602 minutes with Archie Goodwin. He played 2107 minutes last season. Now, this doesn't mean that he played 1274 minutes with one of these two as a back court mate, as he played some with both at the same time as well as playing 712 with Knight and 148 with Bledsoe (again, not necessarily exclusively), but for a good chunk of his season, he didn't have much help.

He's been really impressive with his scoring at such a young age but he's also still pretty raw and maybe that's a compliment. My only criticism is that we've seen young players put up big points on poor teams with a big usg%. Booker wasn't the most efficient shooter his rookie season, especially after Knight and Bledsoe went down(he did shoot below 30% from three the second half). He's young so that's to be expected and a good sign is he'a still getting plenty of looks while I there with both Knight and Bledsoe this preseason. But also this preseason his efficiency hasn't been great and will be something he'll most likely improve on with experience.

True, he has been about as efficient from 3 at 18/19 as Wade was his entire career. He has been shooting less lately from 3 though and really has just been a pretty elite scorer but also a great passer at his age.

Maybe you're right though, and he won't be that great. I guess time will tell. We will have to revisit later.

[MrMiyagi]

Top 5 NBA potential? He has top 5 modern atheletr potential.

Are we sure he's not already a top 5 human being?

He's a top 5 all-time mammal, hands down. I mean, I'm sure we all remember that marmot from back in the 1640s that was pure amazing. Oh, and Lucy doing that whole transition-to-human thing? That was pretty awesome, but other than that, can't think of any other nipple-suckers in the same class as Devin Booker.

Pretty hard to crack the top 5 all-time organism though, but he's still young. Tardigrade is the gate keeper on that one.

[ElectricMayhem]

Are we sure he's not already a top 5 human being?

He's a top 5 all-time mammal, hands down. I mean, I'm sure we all remember that marmot from back in the 1640s that was pure amazing. Oh, and Lucy doing that whole transition-to-human thing? That was pretty awesome, but other than that, can't think of any other nipple-suckers in the same class as Devin Booker.

Pretty hard to crack the top 5 all-time organism though, but he's still young. Tardigrade is the gate keeper on that one.

3000 of the top 3200 all time organisms are tardigrades. That's just unfair.

[tsherkin]

He has a very Hardenesque offensive game except that he is much better at the mid range and obviously does not make drawing fouls a major component of his game.

That's not really like Harden at all, then. The identifying elements of his game are his extreme rim-or-three approach and his major drive to draw fouls...

I find his similarities in being able to finish around the rim despite not being extremely athletic just like Harden, obviously Harden takes drawing fouls/flopping to another level.

Harden is pretty athletic, actually. I'll grant you he isn't in that upper echelon of proper freaks, but it'd be a mistake to believe him not extremely athletic.

[guille_4]

I really don't want to hype him too much. Yes, his defense needs work. But damn is he impressive. As a starter last season he averaged 17 points 3 rebounds and 3.5 assists, and he looked good doing it. This preseason he looks even better, and has better players around him. I don't think people realize he played 672 minutes with Ronnie Price and 602 minutes with Archie Goodwin. He played 2107 minutes last season. Now, this doesn't mean that he played 1274 minutes with one of these two as a back court mate, as he played some with both at the same time as well as playing 712 with Knight and 148 with Bledsoe (again, not necessarily exclusively), but for a good chunk of his season, he didn't have much help.

He's been really impressive with his scoring at such a young age but he's also still pretty raw and maybe that's a compliment. My only criticism is that we've seen young players put up big points on poor teams with a big usg%. Booker wasn't the most efficient shooter his rookie season, especially after Knight and Bledsoe went down(he did shoot below 30% from three the second half). He's young so that's to be expected and a good sign is he'a still getting plenty of looks while I there with both Knight and Bledsoe this preseason. But also this preseason his efficiency hasn't been great and will be something he'll most likely improve on with experience.

He's been pretty efficient in the 2 pre-season games he's played so far.

13 points on 3-9 FG, 1-3 3 PT, 3-4 FT, 4 rebounds, 3 assists with 0 TOs and 1 steal in 20 minutes.
34 points on 15-23 FG, 1-3 PT, 3-4 FT, 3 rebounds, 5 assists with 4 TOs and 3 steals in 29 minutes.

[guille_4]

He´s my top contender for MIP this year. He will be a starter, Bledsoe will go down with injuries, Knight will be traded and Devin will be the fisrt offensive option for the Suns and score 20 ppg.

I hope Bledsoe doesn't get injured, he can use a competent offensive player next to him.

Even with Bledsoe and Knight, he should get 32 minutes per game and 15 shots.

[guille_4]

That's not really like Harden at all, then. The identifying elements of his game are his extreme rim-or-three approach and his major drive to draw fouls...

I find his similarities in being able to finish around the rim despite not being extremely athletic just like Harden, obviously Harden takes drawing fouls/flopping to another level.

Harden is pretty athletic, actually. I'll grant you he isn't in that upper echelon of proper freaks, but it'd be a mistake to believe him not extremely athletic.

Absolutely. He also has excellent length for a SG. 6'10.75 wingspan and a 8'7.5 standing reach.

[76ciology]

He's a top 5 all-time mammal, hands down. I mean, I'm sure we all remember that marmot from back in the 1640s that was pure amazing. Oh, and Lucy doing that whole transition-to-human thing? That was pretty awesome, but other than that, can't think of any other nipple-suckers in the same class as Devin Booker.

Pretty hard to crack the top 5 all-time organism though, but he's still young. Tardigrade is the gate keeper on that one.

3000 of the top 3200 all time organisms are tardigrades. That's just unfair.

Booker is not a mammal. He's a phoenix. Which is half fire and half bird.

[spacemonkey]

I loved how Booker used the threat of the 3 to fake out defenders and then *confidently* sink that midrange jump shot.

There was absolutely no hesitancy about him. Bodes very well for his future. He looks like a 13 year old boy but he's got some stones on him alright.

[MalonesElbows]

The NBA is all about adaption. Everyone is 3 inches taller than in college and more athletic. Smart players recognize this and can survive, so when I read Booker is already talking about "trickery" and "using aggressiveness against them" I think it bodes very well for him. Having said that, he is going to have to get a lot tougher and smarter on defense. He looks like Jimmer **** Fredette out there on defense. RPM ranks him as the 2nd worst defensive SG over 25 minutes a game last year.

[JazzMan_OS]

Think he could get to the level Of Klay Thompson offensively.

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[MotownMadness]

Kids got some major potential, I thought he was going to be a one trick pony coming out of the draft and be like a glorified Meeks or something. He has star potential though as he can score and create his own shot all over the court.

[Jason_Todd]

Pretty hard to crack the top 5 all-time organism though, but he's still young. Tardigrade is the gate keeper on that one.

3000 of the top 3200 all time organisms are tardigrades. That's just unfair.

Booker is not a mammal. He's a phoenix. Which is half fire and half bird.

[j-ragg]

Redick comparisons aren't an insult imo, they both have really nice fundamentally sound jumpers. Redick is also one of the most efficient guards in the league, with a really high bball iq. But Booker is definitely rounding out his game in other areas that JJ never really did.

He looks really good on the pick and roll, stepping into mid range pull ups.

[BrooklynBulls]

Redick comparisons aren't an insult imo, they both have really nice fundamentally sound jumpers. Redick is also one of the most efficient guards in the league, with a really high bball iq. But Booker is definitely rounding out his game in other areas that JJ never really did.

He looks really good on the pick and roll, stepping into mid range pull ups.

It's honestly a very weird comparison. Their athleticism and ball-handling abilities are totally different, as are their shooting proficiencies. Booker's got a J, sure, but Redick was an all-time college shooter, and has made himself into a top shooter in the NBA. The comparison doesn't hold water besides position and shade of skin.

[zeebneeb]

Looks to be a high-end shooter for years, but his defense is just horrendous. I'll withhold judgement until year 4 though. Some players with holes in their games take time to correct it.

It could also be a symptom of being on the Suns which are a bad team, on both ends. His shot is pure though.

[LV-Suns]

People that still compares him to JJ just simply hasn't seen him play. He just scored 34 points while only hitting one 3 and most of his shots coming unassisted. Both of them have an amazing shot from outside and that's where that comparison ends.

[eagereyez]

Yeah Booker clearly has better ball handling than Reddick/Klay did at the same age. He will certainly be a better creator than both of them. Really reminds me of a young Ray Allen.