In his first year as an NBA head coach, Earl Watson of the Phoenix Suns made a statement very early. He made second year guard, Devin Booker his starter, benching $70M man, Brandon Knight in the process.
With a roster full of promise, but still raw with youth and inexperience, Watson opted for the 6-foot-6 Michigander instead of veteran Brandon Knight, who the Suns traded for in 2015.
The move has paid off, as Booker is scoring at a 19.3 points per game clip, second only to Eric Bledsoe, who leads the team in scoring with 20 points per contest.
The Kentucky phenom has taken an already mature skill set and transformed himself from being a “guy who can catch fire”, to a player worthy of being in every team's scouting report.
Watson admits Booker's starting spot wasn't one that came solely on merit, but in his everyday approach to the game.
“I don’t know if I’m tougher on any player than I am on Devin Booker,” Watson told Doug Haller of the Arizona Republic. “Because I know what he can be and I know what he has to go through mentally and physically to get there. Book and I have conversations in passing, but mostly we have conversations in front of the team. He takes it. Not once has he ever questioned being called out.”
While many young players are resistant to advice and criticism, Booker has taken it head-on and strived to become better, a thing every coach values immensely in a young budding player.
The talent is there, and if he can take the coaching staff's advice along with his on-court experience, it won't be long until Booker becomes a bonafide star to be reckoned with.
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