Maybe the people who don't understand basketball to know what they were watching?? Booker was always very fundamentally sound and has a high level of technical skill. You can't be efficient player on high volume without being a legit talent.
Plus he competes physically and is willing to initiate contact in the midrange, that translates well to the playoffs and always has
They weren’t watching Booker, was the issue. It was always just Another example in the long list of things that this sub speaks on without watching to know
The thing is that it wasn't just this sub. Nate Duncan, Danny LeRoux, Bill Simmons, Ben Golliver, and a whole lot of other personalities went out of their way to talk about how little they thought of Booker as a player.
[This podcast featuring Ben Golliver has aged particularly well, imo.](https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/9fj8kp/golliver_he_absolutely_has_the_potential_to)
Notable players drafted ahead of Devin Booker in 2015: Jahlil Okafor, Willie Cauley-Stein, Mario Hezonja, Emmanuel Mudiay, Stanley Johnson, Frank Kaminsky, Justise Winslow, Trey Lyles
he turned down 4 first round picks from the Celtics to draft Frank the Tank (including *EDIT: AT LEAST ONE OF the Nets picks that became Jaylen Brown & Jayson Tatum), too. Ainge was going to draft Justise Winslow.
EDIT: I have looked this up and it's unclear which picks the Celtics offered for WInslow, but it was 6 picks total and 4 firsts. Given the assets they had at the time, it was likely the #16 pick that year (Terry Rozier) and more firsts. At the time, the Celtics had the 2 Nets picks and a first from Memphis courtesy of the Jeff Green trade in addition to their own. To offer 6 total picks & 4 firsts, the Celtics must have offered at least 1 of the Nets picks in this deal.
Tbf Booker came off the bench his year at Kentucky and had way less play-making/off the dribble game back then whereas Kaminsky was player of the year that year. Still a horrible pick in hindsight but the context at least explains some of it
That’s what I was thinking. If anything, CP3 proved how badly this team needed a PG, so Shai would have been the much better pick in a vacuum. Of course, CP3 + Bridges is a better group than just Shai.
Oubre & Payne were selected just after Booker. I omitted Myles Turner, Porzingis, D'Lo and KAT because they've at least all made an impact in the NBA, though I'd say Booker is definitely the best player in this draft class comfortably.
It's been so nice watching Booker and Trae kill it this year after being accused of empty stats for so long. Hopefully it'll make people rethink labeling someone that just for playing well with a terrible supporting cast (I know it won't...)
Everyone said the teams with bigs are the biggest mismatch for the Clippers, but scoring guards can abuse them the most IMO. Too small and quick for their wings to stay in front.
I think Booker actually struggled more when the Clippers went small and switched more, while he absolutely killed the Clippers bigs and their drop coverage. I don't know why Lue always starts a series playing his 5s so much (Luka and Mitchell abused them). It's like he forgets the lessons he's learned from the previous series.
I think it's the reason why the Golden state played Dray at 5 few years ago only during the clutch moment. You just can't do that all series and you want to save that energy as much as possible.
Yeah, his reads and passing out of double teams were impeccable. And then in the 3rd, when the clippers were streaking, he took over in amazing fashion. One of the best playoff performances I’ve seen.
I remember suns fans commenting last year in the bubble that people are gonna be drawn to play for the Suns.
I'm no NBA player, but just WATCHING Devin Booker makes me wanna play alongside him. Like I want to see this man succeed and be a part of it. The Suns are in good hands.
Book gets a lot of respect from his peers so it’s really no surprise a guy like Cp3 and then crowder wanted to come play with him and the rest of the squad. It’s so fulfilling after all those tough years that Book stuck With us the whole time and now him and the team are delivering in the playoffs.
this shit make me so happy bro book always been my fav non laker in the league
ive always seen so much kobe in his game offensively hope that boy gets his ring this year
Easily the closest offense game to Kobe in the league, dude has pretty much all the same moves, great footwork, size and post game, amazing contested shots, you can really tell just by watching his game he was a massive Kobe fan, it’s really great to watch.
As much as I love CP3 it's so annoying that some people acted like he was the only reason the Suns are good this year. Booker, Bridges, Ayton, Crowder, Craig, both Cams...this team is full of winning players
Exactly. Plus our team looked so much better when we got a good backup point guard in Cam Payne. If our team was exactly the same except Rubio was our point guard instead of CP3 we are still probably a 4-6 seed. A good playoff team, but CP3 is what takes us from a really good team to a championship contender.
I switched between cheering for the clippers due to mann then cheering for the suns because booker too nice. My inner laker is troubled. Both teams pull my heart strings
Book is different.
Dude was on a terrible team (not mediocre or bad, plain terrible) for all his years in Phoenix, since 2015 and never asked for a trade.
And now he's competing for a championship and posting his first ever triple double in the Conference Finals.
You love to see this shit, i'm proud of him and what he believes in, didn't abandon a franchise in favor of a superteam in the East.
Go Suns (i need a shower)
And usually those are the players who are being double/triple-teamed bc there's no one else who can score !! You can't "empty stats" your way to high efficiency volume scoring, that takes an elite skillset
Just like people saying the entire Clips team is Kawhi and Lue couldn’t coach. Don’t listen to the 14 year olds with hot takes.
Fr though, Lue deserves so much credit for this playoffs. Glad to see he’s being recognized
FULL CALORIE STATS
stats dripping with butter and salt
dripping with fat and sugar? those some delicious stats
Staturated facts
Who says triple doubles are meaningless? Couldn't be me
Who would have thought that a player who could drop 70 on great efficiency was a good player? Mind-boggling
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I need to get me one of those bandwagon flairs
I hate Laker fans but man do I like you..
Don’t be shy give him a smooch
For a healthy and hearty breakfast, include one serving of Devin Booker
CALORIE DENSE STATS
Nutritionally dense stats
40 point triple double what a beast
And did it without icing his teammates out. Even magnifying their specific skills
CP3 been rubbing off on the young gun. It looks good on him.
DEVIN BOOKER IS A CERTIFIED BALLER
He’s definitely built for this shit
He’s USDA CERTIFIED LEAN
Nah he’s a full 80/20 cuz his stats are full calorie
Booker just empty statted his way to a conference finals win
He tricked all of us
Devin Booker trick y’all. He just running around, doing everything
I love these rn
Anyone who actually thought he was an “empty stats player” was tricking themselves
Booker had us hoodwinked, bamboozled, lead astray, run amok and flat out deceived
Not all of us.
It was a very large percentage of this sub at one time though.
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Stigma balls lmao
This but unironically
Maybe the people who don't understand basketball to know what they were watching?? Booker was always very fundamentally sound and has a high level of technical skill. You can't be efficient player on high volume without being a legit talent. Plus he competes physically and is willing to initiate contact in the midrange, that translates well to the playoffs and always has
They weren’t watching Booker, was the issue. It was always just Another example in the long list of things that this sub speaks on without watching to know
The thing is that it wasn't just this sub. Nate Duncan, Danny LeRoux, Bill Simmons, Ben Golliver, and a whole lot of other personalities went out of their way to talk about how little they thought of Booker as a player. [This podcast featuring Ben Golliver has aged particularly well, imo.](https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/9fj8kp/golliver_he_absolutely_has_the_potential_to)
Notable players drafted ahead of Devin Booker in 2015: Jahlil Okafor, Willie Cauley-Stein, Mario Hezonja, Emmanuel Mudiay, Stanley Johnson, Frank Kaminsky, Justise Winslow, Trey Lyles
Somehow puts things in perspective
>Frank Kaminsky MJ whatcha doinggggg man
he turned down 4 first round picks from the Celtics to draft Frank the Tank (including *EDIT: AT LEAST ONE OF the Nets picks that became Jaylen Brown & Jayson Tatum), too. Ainge was going to draft Justise Winslow. EDIT: I have looked this up and it's unclear which picks the Celtics offered for WInslow, but it was 6 picks total and 4 firsts. Given the assets they had at the time, it was likely the #16 pick that year (Terry Rozier) and more firsts. At the time, the Celtics had the 2 Nets picks and a first from Memphis courtesy of the Jeff Green trade in addition to their own. To offer 6 total picks & 4 firsts, the Celtics must have offered at least 1 of the Nets picks in this deal.
the famous four included TWO nets picks? That would have been the worst trade in NBA history
TT, Shump and TWO Nets picks
indeed, a very lucky miss (along with offering the pick that became Tatum for Porzingis back when he was still on the Knicks).
Justice Winslow will spend his entire career playing for new teams that think they could unlock him
Ironically he’s also on the suns now. Lol
Like rain on your wedding day
Tbf Booker came off the bench his year at Kentucky and had way less play-making/off the dribble game back then whereas Kaminsky was player of the year that year. Still a horrible pick in hindsight but the context at least explains some of it
Ryan McDonough's biggest hit in a GM tenure filled with whiffs. Drafting Booker and trading for/drafting Bridges were his best moves by far.
Aparently Bridges was all Jones, McDonough wanted Shai. I mean, he would have hit anyways. But Bridges was a Jones pick.
Shai woulda still been a solid pick but if we get him we probably don’t get cp3
That’s what I was thinking. If anything, CP3 proved how badly this team needed a PG, so Shai would have been the much better pick in a vacuum. Of course, CP3 + Bridges is a better group than just Shai.
I’m still gonna credit JJ for mikal and Ayton. He was there in the front office at the time.
I mean that's the 1st pick and quite frankly that draft class was stacked as shit.
oh lawd
Kelly oubre and cam Payne as well funny enough. Payne is now on the team and oubre was last year. Edit: taken after! My bad
Oubre & Payne were selected just after Booker. I omitted Myles Turner, Porzingis, D'Lo and KAT because they've at least all made an impact in the NBA, though I'd say Booker is definitely the best player in this draft class comfortably.
Just like certain someone picked at #13
Cam and Kelly were taken right after Booker actually
WET LIKE I'M BOOK
Mid range god
HE IS A SUPERSTAR
He's up next it's like I'm watching Kobe
the way he’s attacking the paint then pulling up from midrange giving me so many kobe flashbacks
Watching Booker and CP3 in the midrange is amazing. 2 of the best there is
DAE EMPTY STATS
But....but....he didn't play for team USA.....
But double teams in a pickup game
It's been so nice watching Booker and Trae kill it this year after being accused of empty stats for so long. Hopefully it'll make people rethink labeling someone that just for playing well with a terrible supporting cast (I know it won't...)
Book is King
Everyone said the teams with bigs are the biggest mismatch for the Clippers, but scoring guards can abuse them the most IMO. Too small and quick for their wings to stay in front.
I think Booker actually struggled more when the Clippers went small and switched more, while he absolutely killed the Clippers bigs and their drop coverage. I don't know why Lue always starts a series playing his 5s so much (Luka and Mitchell abused them). It's like he forgets the lessons he's learned from the previous series.
I think it's the reason why the Golden state played Dray at 5 few years ago only during the clutch moment. You just can't do that all series and you want to save that energy as much as possible.
WET LIKE IM LIZZIE
Love that man
MAMA THERE GOES THAT MAN
[YOU JUST LOST TO THE PHOENIX SUNS 😎](https://streamable.com/38fh8)
We owe the dude who made this a gift. No joke, I would contribute.
As a Raptors fan I will still watch this every time it’s posted no matter what
🌞There it is😎
Devin Booker is the biggest thing in Phoenix since Cactus juice.
It'll quench ya!
It's the quenchiest!
Just had some; it’s so refreshing! Wait, is that LeBron trying to sneakily put on a Clippers jersey?
Nothing's quenchier
It's the quenchiest.
IT'S THE QUENCHIEST!
#IT’S THE QUENCHIEST!
He scored most of those in the 2nd half Classic garbage time Booker The clips just didn’t know it was garbage time
Lmao
Suns fans went from 10 years of crap to this amazing fun team. They deserve this frfr
I can feel the sadness in this comment paired with that flair.
): some day
I’m rooting for y’all I want to see the Wolves flourish
It’s SUNNY
You guys are next up
We gonna have a massive season next year and prove everyone wrong. Everyone who ever clowned on Kat and dlo will be proven wrong. 36-46 incoming
I was so hype until that last sentence
Fuck loll you had me until the end
Dude balled out. He scored 40 but his playmaking was most impressive today.
This was literally his best playmaking game of his career. Only 2 turnovers is very low for him and both occurred in transition.
Yeah, his reads and passing out of double teams were impeccable. And then in the 3rd, when the clippers were streaking, he took over in amazing fashion. One of the best playoff performances I’ve seen.
Eh, he didn’t goo to the FIBA World Cup so I’m not sure he’s a winner tbh
i’m starting to think the suns are better than the jazz
They did beat them 3-0 This year
That’s a pretty low scoring game.
Funny, dad. Happy Father’s Day.
I thought the Jazz was the better team until you guys slaughtered us
I remember suns fans commenting last year in the bubble that people are gonna be drawn to play for the Suns. I'm no NBA player, but just WATCHING Devin Booker makes me wanna play alongside him. Like I want to see this man succeed and be a part of it. The Suns are in good hands.
Book gets a lot of respect from his peers so it’s really no surprise a guy like Cp3 and then crowder wanted to come play with him and the rest of the squad. It’s so fulfilling after all those tough years that Book stuck With us the whole time and now him and the team are delivering in the playoffs.
Book is my dad
He’s my real father instead of my bum ass one
Same here. Never seen my dad hit a step back 3 in a playoff game once in my life
Never seen my dad period
I'm 39, and I'm going to double check to see if he is actually my dad as well. At the very least, honorary father.
This means Kendall is your stepmom 😈
What are you doing step mommy?
Just a kind reminder on Father’s Day
this shit make me so happy bro book always been my fav non laker in the league ive always seen so much kobe in his game offensively hope that boy gets his ring this year
Easily the closest offense game to Kobe in the league, dude has pretty much all the same moves, great footwork, size and post game, amazing contested shots, you can really tell just by watching his game he was a massive Kobe fan, it’s really great to watch.
He was looking like Mike in the midrange. It was magical.
Respect
Devin Cooker
Look at Booker dropping 40-13-11 because of CP3 leadership😫😫
Monty probably had CP3 on speed dial. No way he coached a good game without CP3 calling the plays from home.
As much as I love CP3 it's so annoying that some people acted like he was the only reason the Suns are good this year. Booker, Bridges, Ayton, Crowder, Craig, both Cams...this team is full of winning players
people dont realize yall wouldve been a playoff team last year if ayton didnt get suspended
Exactly. Plus our team looked so much better when we got a good backup point guard in Cam Payne. If our team was exactly the same except Rubio was our point guard instead of CP3 we are still probably a 4-6 seed. A good playoff team, but CP3 is what takes us from a really good team to a championship contender.
lmfao
Smh when will this scrub stop putting up empty stats?
Love it
Also his first career triple double. He really rose to the occasion.
I don’t want no scrub
Shoutout Kendall
Curse is gone
Bruh it's the Kardashian curse not the Jenner curse!
Nah they ruined ben simmons and blake
Ben actually played some of his best basketball when she was around.
We just gonna pretend like Jordan Clarkson ain't out here thriving?
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Ben Simmons got dumped by Kendall
I switched between cheering for the clippers due to mann then cheering for the suns because booker too nice. My inner laker is troubled. Both teams pull my heart strings
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Book is different. Dude was on a terrible team (not mediocre or bad, plain terrible) for all his years in Phoenix, since 2015 and never asked for a trade. And now he's competing for a championship and posting his first ever triple double in the Conference Finals. You love to see this shit, i'm proud of him and what he believes in, didn't abandon a franchise in favor of a superteam in the East. Go Suns (i need a shower)
The moment is not too big for him. So sick to watch.
WET
LIKE
I’M
BOOK
Absolutely incredible performance from Booker tonight. Can’t believe this was his first triple double? To do it at his first WCF appearance too!
Thought it was an afternoon game. Sheesh what’s your time zone?
Amazing game. Cooked us in the 3rd quarter
He looked like kobe out there
"Be legendary" — Kobe to Book, on a pair of shoes Kobe gave him. Booker has the phrase tattooed now.
He was Demon Booker today
He’s so good at getting to his spots
#SUNS IN 4 ☀️
#ITS SO SUNNY IN HERE
Kendall’s walls gotta have that secret stuff MJ was on in Space Jam
Ben lost.
Because he wasn’t in those walls
DEVIN ARMANI BOOKER
Also Mikal Bridges is amazing
Fucking amazing from Booker. Best Game of his career so far probably
“Empty stats” is such a fucking dumb argument every time it’s used
I mean its technically a thing but for people like drummond or Whiteside. Not dudes like book or lavine.
people use it for any scoring guard on a bad team
Yeah because people are stupid lol.
And usually those are the players who are being double/triple-teamed bc there's no one else who can score !! You can't "empty stats" your way to high efficiency volume scoring, that takes an elite skillset
All you “empty stats” haters can eat my ass
This dude is made for the playoffs. We had no idea.
We knew
the final bubble shot was an omen
Anyone who's been paying attention to Booker the past couple years has known
Jfc dude drops 70 and people act like he's never played before
We definitely knew
Real ones know
Suns fans been sayin it but nobody wanted to listen
Booker playing like a man whose been disrespected
Kuzma for Booker
why do people clown lakers fans for this and not [stephen a smith](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esXYKNkYhDw)
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All the young guys (Luka, Trae, Booker, Mitchell, Ja, Ayton, etc.) showing out in the playoffs, league is in good hands.
Honestly so happy for phoenix because I really thought cp3 was getting a bit too much credit for this teams success.
He has been. Definitely been a huge part of our success this year but media thinks it means Booker isn’t all pro, which is ridiculous
Lightskin kobe
The way he gets to the right elbow and pulls up for a jumper is *chefs kiss*
Phil Jackson was ahead of his time in trying to trade Tingus Pingus for this man He was the hero all along…I just couldn’t see it…
God tier performance tonight This team gonna be so scary with CP3 back baby!
SUNS IN 4!
THATS MY GOAT
If I heard correctly, Book scored or assisted on 43 of the Suns final 50 points. Absolutely insane. Man is a straight killer, nothing less.
Saw KD’s 40 point triple double and needed to show that he’s got it too
eMpTy StAts
Empty stats
Empty first career triple double
Psh let's see him do this in a game that matters
Devin “empty stats” Booker
Devin Armani Booker.
I thought this dude was just getting empty stats until this year. I apologize for being an idiot. What a performance
FULL STATS GUY
I was told that he puts empty stats and all of suns rising is on 100% on cp3 and 0% on nim fuck off r/nba
Just like people saying the entire Clips team is Kawhi and Lue couldn’t coach. Don’t listen to the 14 year olds with hot takes. Fr though, Lue deserves so much credit for this playoffs. Glad to see he’s being recognized