McGrady fawns over Booker’s jump shot.
While injuries prohibited Tracy McGrady from reaching his full potential, his time with the Orlando Magic showcased he was one of the league’s most dynamic scorers. After leading the league in scoring twice, it was evident to all that the seven-time All-Star possessed incredible knowledge of manipulating defenders and knocking down shots in the tightest of spaces.
Given this, T-Mac has an eye for players with similar capabilities, and one he praised recently is Devin Booker. The Hall of Famer said the Phoenix Suns guard’s jump shot and offensive bag place him in the same conversation as one of the greatest soccer in the league’s history.
McGrady on Booker
Modern-day players like Ja Morant and Anthony Edwards have built a reputation for being as fearless as some of the old-school legends, but while attacking the rim, “D-Book” stands out for a different reason. Despite not possessing exceptional speed or athleticism, the 6’6″ guard continuously finds ways to drop game-high points on a nightly basis.
Over the past six seasons, Booker has averaged over 25 points per game, shooting above 46% from the field in each of those campaigns; this highlights how efficient he is in knocking down shots from inside the perimeter. Recognizing this, T-Mac applauded Devin’s footwork and ability to knock down jump shots effortlessly. He also drew parallels between the four-time All-Star’s offensive flair and that of some of the all-time greats.
“I love D-Book’s game. D-Book has the perfect jump shot. Klay Thompson has the perfect jump shot, but D-Book ‘s jump shot is just textbook. Because he’s such a great jump shooter, he knows how to create space,” McGrady said. “He knows how to use the proper footwork… He’s really good at pull-up jump shot, one-two dribble, and rising up. How I played, how Kobe played, how MJ played, KD plays, D-Book has little bit of that in his game as well ’cause he’s such a great jump shooter. All he needs is a little bit of space.”
D-Book needs to take command of the Suns
Given the ease with which he knocks turnaround fadeaways or step-back jumpers, it only sheds light on the countless hours the former Wildcat spends behind the scenes to perfect his craft. Consequently, to maximize the potential of his scoring repertoire, Booker needs to emerge as the team’s undisputed leading scorer over Kevin Durant in the 2024-25 season.
In the 2021 playoffs, the Suns’ success was largely due to Booker’s leadership of the team’s offense alongside Chris Paul. Similarly, for the Arizona squad to make a deep playoff run this season or even reach the championship round, the 27-year-old will need to fully embrace his offensive role, perhaps in the same way Luka Doncic does for the Dallas Mavericks.
Doing so will solidify his place among the best players of his generation and justify the immense talent of his offensive game.