The Paris Olympics offered the world a fresh perspective on the Phoenix Suns’ all-star guard Devin Booker. That’s the magic of the Olympics: they make you cheer for athletes you wouldn’t normally support. I can’t say I’ve ever rooted for LeBron James in the NBA, except maybe back in 2007 when his Cleveland Cavaliers were swept by the San Antonio Spurs in the Finals. Typical me. Going for someone destined to lose.
But earlier this month, I found myself genuinely enjoying the experience of rooting for The King. And many, for the first time ever, found themselves rooting for Devin Booker.
What they witnessed isn’t the Booker we typically know. He was playing a tertiary and sometimes quaternary role. He was playing full-court defense. He was crashing the boards and focusing on executing the little things that would allow those around him to be successful. We are used to Alpha Book. The world saw Beta Book.
Even if Booker’s performance in Paris doesn’t translate directly to his play in Phoenix, seeing his success and the world’s reaction to our beloved Sun was gratifying. He left Paris not only as a gold medalist but also as someone who reshaped the national narrative around him.
Devin Booker impressed many, including his teammates.
Ant Man: “Steph had great games, he (KD) had great games, Lebron had great games, but Book was guarding the best player, turning down shots, Book go for seventy, not gonna lie, I was impressed watching him.” #FanaticsFest
🫡 @DevinBook @theantedwards_ @KDTrey5 pic.twitter.com/KHJkgjW5t6
— Whyba (@wbhuvad) August 17, 2024
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards, who was generally Booker’s relief coming off of the bench at the Olympics, was one of those teammates. In an interview with Jalen Rose with Kevin Durant present, he said as much.
“Steph had great games, he had great games,” Edwards said, pointing at Durant. “Lebron had great games, but Book was guarding the best player, turning down shots. Cause Book go for seventy, you know what I mean? I ain’t gonna lie, I was impressed watching him.”
The respect Booker commands across the league is no secret. Kevin Durant and Chris Paul, both future Hall of Famers, didn’t just wander into Phoenix. They came to play with him. And now young Anthony Edwards finally received the memo on why.
As Devin enters his 10th season in the NBA, he’s far from the wide-eyed kid from Moss Point, Mississippi, who was once just racking up points on a losing team. Now, he’s a two-time Olympic gold medalist, a four-time All-Star, and a two-time All-NBA player. At 27, he’s somehow both a seasoned veteran and still in his prime.
The narrative around him has evolved, though we won’t fully grasp what that means until the season unfolds. The NBA is a popularity contest, after all, and maybe the talking heads will finally give him his due, leading to more accolades.
Does that really matter? Probably not. But it’s the reality of the NBA and one of the perks that might just come from his Parisian summer adventure. We want a championship, and having Decin Booker deliver that would be the sweetest of moments. And if he’d win one, guess what? Everyone would hate him again.