Is Devin Booker a Bona Fide Superstar Now?

[dremill24]

Yeah lets just shred guys' reps for not being as good as Kobe.

[HotRocks34]

Monty, Monty, Monty.

Why did you sit him?

[Marvin Martian]

His efficiency is below average compared to other superstar and he is not a great playmaker or ball handler. He needs to improve that if PHX wants to remain a contender. Paul is 36 and cannot run the offense forver

[Joshyjess]

No.

[CIN-C-STAR]

Book is perfect for this no-D era.
But if you could actually play good, physical defense, I think he'd be significantly worse
If touch fouls & running into guys = automatic FTs, he's awesome though. Would love to have him on my team in this era.

[Pelly24]

He is a very good player and a dynamic scorer and I think he'll eventually be a solid playmaker consistently. But damn, I just checked, 36.7% from the field his last 9 games. That's just awful, especially on a well-rounded team where he isn't really overwhelmed.

[Ill News]

I saw someone compare him to Paul Pierce, which is pretty accurate. He's at that tier of stardom, I don't think he'll ever belong in the highest class of superstar simply because he doesn't have the athleticism, savant-like playmaking, or physical advantages the way LeBron, Giannis, Kawhi, KD, Luka, Harden, AD, and Curry have. Booker's just an extremely solid scorer and a clutch player too, which is what Pierce was.

[Winsome Gerbil]

Yeah lets just shred guys' reps for not being as good as Kobe.

"the bonafide superstar" is the thing that drew fire.

That's twice in one playoffs somebody started a Booker-as-superstar thread, and he's just not, nor is he going to be.

And as I've said before, I was a Booker backer long before 90% of his stans today even got that idea in their head. Loved his ability to heat up to scorching level and with competitive fire. Never gave a hoot about "oh noes, he's on a losing team!!" Always considered that a worthless grannyesque observation.

But the thing I DO care about, is what can a guy do. It makes not one ounce of difference how good his teammates are or are not, what can HE do? And that same reason that I have been high on Booker for years, is why these "superstar" threads have to stop. He does not have the skillset. He never will have the skillset. He showed a nice little ability to pick up more distributing duties pre-CP3, and he could still do better defensively if he redirects the competitiveness that way, but he's already reached that homeostasis point in his development. Put up the same numbers for years. He is what he is. Not an overwhelming athlete, not a great defender, not an elite creative force. But a guy who gets hot and who fights every game. He isn't backing down. There's plenty of room for such a guy, especially on a winning team, to be an All Star and borderline All NBA guy depending on competition, without him being a franchise level "superstar". Just let him be what he is and they're lucky to have him. Constantly pump him up with artificial expectations and you take a good thing and turn it into a disappointment.

[sunless01]

I saw someone compare him to Paul Pierce, which is pretty accurate. He's at that tier of stardom, I don't think he'll ever belong in the highest class of superstar simply because he doesn't have the athleticism, savant-like playmaking, or physical advantages the way LeBron, Giannis, Kawhi, KD, Luka, Harden, AD, and Curry have. Booker's just an extremely solid scorer and a clutch player too, which is what Pierce was.

to me pierce is a clear cut better talent than booker. much bigger, stronger, even seems a little more explosive in short areas. had no trouble getting to his spots in a way more physical league.

[Yuri Vaultin]

Hot takes! Come get your hot takes!

[Pablo Escobar]

I saw someone compare him to Paul Pierce, which is pretty accurate. He's at that tier of stardom, I don't think he'll ever belong in the highest class of superstar simply because he doesn't have the athleticism, savant-like playmaking, or physical advantages the way LeBron, Giannis, Kawhi, KD, Luka, Harden, AD, and Curry have. Booker's just an extremely solid scorer and a clutch player too, which is what Pierce was.

Pierce was a better player, much bigger at 6'8 240ish, and when he was younger he had some quickness to go along with his big frame. Which allowed him to age better and feast at the elbow and also in the post. Booker lacks size and explosiveness, also has weak handles and his court vision isn't that good either.

[Woodsanity]

He has not been good these playoffs overall.... Very disappointing play....

[Saint Lazarus]

I saw someone compare him to Paul Pierce, which is pretty accurate. He's at that tier of stardom, I don't think he'll ever belong in the highest class of superstar simply because he doesn't have the athleticism, savant-like playmaking, or physical advantages the way LeBron, Giannis, Kawhi, KD, Luka, Harden, AD, and Curry have. Booker's just an extremely solid scorer and a clutch player too, which is what Pierce was.

He might play like a smaller Paul Pierce, but he is definitely not even in that tier of stardom. Let's not forget that both of Booker's all star appearances were as injury replacements.

[PT416]

Book is solid. He's in the perfect role right now. He can't carry a team though. He's more of a Bradley Beal lite in the sense that he'll get you buckets but if you wanna win, he can't be your most important player.

[lilfishi22]

For what it's worth, I don't think the vast majority of Suns fans view Booker as a bona fide superstar now. Most think he's varying levels of all-star to all-NBA level star but superstar and bonafide superstars are just a different tier altogether.

[PistolPeteJR]

I am relieved that Book is playing both ends of the court when we need him the most at the highest stage of the game but do you really think this defensive performance is replicable and he is comparable to those elite two-way players you are listing?

Didn't Monty bench him in the clutch just last night when the Suns were playing D lol?

Yeah...you did not watch the game.

I did watch the game. For some reason I thought Monty benched him with like a minute or so left after a timeout/FTs (can't remember now) and then put him back in after the defensive possession. Checked the play-by-play the other day when I said that I stood corrected and saw that I had remembered incorrectly when it came to that end part of the game.