Devin Booker

[getrichordie]

Honestly, barring injuries, I think his ceiling is Kobe lite. Yes, LITE. I think his game is very similar in some respects and he will only get stronger which will help him defend better. If I was Presti, I'd throw the kitchen sink at the kid... But I'm not Presti!


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM mobile app

[510TWSS]

He's been really impressive with his scoring at such a young age but he's also still pretty raw...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.

I'm pretty hyped on Booker, but note that his preseason looks great basically because of one quarter (the 3rd quarter of last game). He was like 8/10 that quarter, take it away and he's at below average TS%. From what I can tell he's a fairly streaky player, which could end up being a weakness but could just be a young thing. He's also got a great feel and reads plays well, which bodes well for him when his shot's not falling. Anyone who's seen him shoot shouldn't be worrying about that, though. And he's definitely not just a good stats/bad team player.

Bad defense, extremely good offense.He is automatic from midrange coming off screens, the guy just never misses and he has good understanding of situations the problem is ........... his defense, cant wait to see him in the playoffs soon and see if he steps it up.

He shot 37% from midrange last year, so he missed 63% of the time. He couldn't miss two days from midrange but last year that was by far his most inefficient range/type of shot.

What's the NBA average for mid range attempts. Can't be much higher than low 40ish %. I think one way he can improve efficiency would be to limit 1-2 of those midrange attempts for more 3's and forays to the basket. The mid range is more likely to be contested, and less likely to result in a foul. I wouldn't get rid of it all together, b/c that's going to be an area of the floor he's going to have to attack a lot. Just get better at converting it, but if it really is a problem for his offense maybe cut it down a bit and try and get a foul at the rim.

[cyclix]

Devin Booker will be a TOP 5 SG this season.

Harden
Wade
Klay
Booker
DeRozan

[DickGrayson]

Harden
Klay
DeRozan
Wade
Booker

He'll be #1 in 2-3 seasons.

[DeezRaptors]

Harden
Klay
DeRozan
Wade
Booker

He'll be #1 in 2-3 seasons.

Put butler third, derozen fourth then maybe booker

[DeezRaptors]

Devin Booker will be a TOP 5 SG this season.

Harden
Wade
Klay
Booker
DeRozan

He isn't over derozen, and wade isn't the second best lmao. I'd put klay or butler which you totally forgot and then derozen fourth and booker 5th maybe. In a few years he will he second or 3rd. Harden will remain 1st and I don't see booked surpassing him soon . maybe 4-5 years

[MrBigShot]

Devin Booker will be a TOP 5 SG this season.

Harden
Wade
Klay
Booker
DeRozan

did jimmy butler fall off the face of the planet

[jonjames]

Honestly, barring injuries, I think his ceiling is Kobe lite. Yes, LITE. I think his game is very similar in some respects and he will only get stronger which will help him defend better. If I was Presti, I'd throw the kitchen sink at the kid... But I'm not Presti!


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM mobile app

Stop it...he's closer to michael redd than a top 10 player of all time and top 2 sg of all time.

[Domejandro]

Honestly, barring injuries, I think his ceiling is Kobe lite. Yes, LITE. I think his game is very similar in some respects and he will only get stronger which will help him defend better. If I was Presti, I'd throw the kitchen sink at the kid... But I'm not Presti!


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM mobile app

He plays almost nothing like Kobe, and is not the freakish athlete that Kobe Bryant was. That seems like a very odd comparison.

[ATTL]

Devin Booker will be a TOP 5 SG this season.

Harden
Wade
Klay
Booker
DeRozan

did jimmy butler fall off the face of the planet

I assume he is now being considered a sf since the bulls now have the number 2 shooting guard in the league.

[guille_4]

Devin Booker will be a TOP 5 SG this season.

Harden
Wade
Klay
Booker
DeRozan

did jimmy butler fall off the face of the planet

I really like Devin Booker and I am very high on him, however, if we account for defense, IMO there are a lot of SG's who are still better players.

- Jimmy Butler
- Kris Middleton
- CJ McCollum
- Evan Fournier
- Andrew Wiggins
- Rodney Hood
- Victor Oladipo
- Danny Green
- Bradley Beal
- Avery Bradley
- Zach Lavine

He'll likely surpass quite a few of these players during the season.

[thamadkant]

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.

I live in Australia I watched almost every game Booker started last year.

I compare him to JJ, because they have similar skill sets...
And I for one have been saying he is a "rich man's" JJ at 19... so that's saying he is going to be a hell of a player since JJ has been a fantastic player the last 2-3 years.

Booker has a higher usage rate than JJ on the Suns and Booker is being developed as a play maker.
The one trait that I see with Booker that I only see on star guards is his ability to make the right decision at the right time...
And as a disclaimer, I did also mention he has developed an off ball and off dribble shot that reminds me of Houston and Redd...

[DickGrayson]

Harden
Klay
DeRozan
Wade
Booker

He'll be #1 in 2-3 seasons.

Put butler third, derozen fourth then maybe booker

wouldn't Butler be playing the 3 now with Wade at SG?

[JellosJigglin]

Honestly, barring injuries, I think his ceiling is Kobe lite. Yes, LITE. I think his game is very similar in some respects and he will only get stronger which will help him defend better. If I was Presti, I'd throw the kitchen sink at the kid... But I'm not Presti!


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM mobile app

He plays almost nothing like Kobe, and is not the freakish athlete that Kobe Bryant was. That seems like a very odd comparison.

Kobe was a good athlete, but not what I'd describe as freakishly athletic. Kobe was never really an elite leaper, or end to end sprinter. While he was above average for his position, the athletic attribute that made him elite was his body control and agility. In his younger days he relied more on his slashing. He was like a sword cutting through defenses. But the older, prime Kobe knew how to dial it back and use all of his wares in a more surgical way.

In that sense, I do see some of that fluidity and agility in Booker. If he can get that footwork and mastery of the game down where he surgically picks defenses apart, then I can see the analogy the OP is making. He has similar tools. Not the same, but the OP did say Kobe-lite.

[Frank Dux]

He's already on par with a guy like Beal imo

From what i've seen from Booker this preseason, I would take him over Beal with no hesitation.

[bwgood77]

Honestly, barring injuries, I think his ceiling is Kobe lite. Yes, LITE. I think his game is very similar in some respects and he will only get stronger which will help him defend better. If I was Presti, I'd throw the kitchen sink at the kid... But I'm not Presti!


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM mobile app

He plays almost nothing like Kobe, and is not the freakish athlete that Kobe Bryant was. That seems like a very odd comparison.

Kobe was a good athlete, but not what I'd describe as freakishly athletic. Kobe was never really an elite leaper, or end to end sprinter. While he was above average for his position, the athletic attribute that made him elite was his body control and agility. In his younger days he relied more on his slashing. He was like a sword cutting through defenses. But the older, prime Kobe knew how to dial it back and use all of his wares in a more surgical way.

In that sense, I do see some of that fluidity and agility in Booker. If he can get that footwork and mastery of the game down where he surgically picks defenses apart, then I can see the analogy the OP is making. He has similar tools. Not the same, but the OP did say Kobe-lite.

I think it is kind of ridiculous to compare him to Kobe, however, I think when people do make such comparisons they should be looking at the player at the similar point in his career.

Now I can't remember Kobe too much in his 2nd year in the league, or the preseason of his 3rd (since he came out of hs while Booker had a year in college).

However, Booker's rookie year was very similar to Kobe's 2nd year..stats very close across the board, and each better in some areas.

http://bkref.com/tiny/doP2o

I don't think their style of play is that similar though. Booker isn't really an iso player and is more of a team player who moves the ball quite a bit.

[twozeroMM]

Honestly, barring injuries, I think his ceiling is Kobe lite. Yes, LITE. I think his game is very similar in some respects and he will only get stronger which will help him defend better. If I was Presti, I'd throw the kitchen sink at the kid... But I'm not Presti!


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM mobile app

He plays almost nothing like Kobe, and is not the freakish athlete that Kobe Bryant was. That seems like a very odd comparison.

A beater comparison and more realistic would be Ray Allen, early ray too.

[John Murdoch]

From what everyone has seen of Booker would you take him over Justice Winslow?

They're not even in the same level...

Booker has a chance to be a top 5 player in this league. Winslow has a chance to make a handful of all star games.

Geezz. I mean i like him as much as the next guy and he is def a tier above Winslow but then u went kinda crazy there lol. Whatever tho u never know i guess. its just classic build up and then iconoclasm for a young promising player

[juju14]

If he can become even a averge defender he will be something special. He matched 2nd year Kobe stats.

[jonjames]

Honestly, barring injuries, I think his ceiling is Kobe lite. Yes, LITE. I think his game is very similar in some respects and he will only get stronger which will help him defend better. If I was Presti, I'd throw the kitchen sink at the kid... But I'm not Presti!


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM mobile app

He plays almost nothing like Kobe, and is not the freakish athlete that Kobe Bryant was. That seems like a very odd comparison.

Kobe was a good athlete, but not what I'd describe as freakishly athletic. Kobe was never really an elite leaper, or end to end sprinter. While he was above average for his position, the athletic attribute that made him elite was his body control and agility. In his younger days he relied more on his slashing. He was like a sword cutting through defenses. But the older, prime Kobe knew how to dial it back and use all of his wares in a more surgical way.

In that sense, I do see some of that fluidity and agility in Booker. If he can get that footwork and mastery of the game down where he surgically picks defenses apart, then I can see the analogy the OP is making. He has similar tools. Not the same, but the OP did say Kobe-lite.

Kobe wasn't a freak athlete, like Jordan, Vince, LeBron etc but to say he was just a good athlete is a gross understatement Someone like James harden would be considered a good athlete, but Kobe in his younger years was a tier below vince in his prime and by most basketball pundits is/was considered a great athlete. Being as you are a laker fan to not ackowledge that is pretty surprising to say the least and then to even suggest that booker with more refining in his game can get near kobe's level is just disrespectful.