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The NBA has seen an immense infusion of talent in the last few years with dominant players coming out from every draft class. In an effort to measure some of them against one another, NBA.com's David Aldridge asked general managers around the league if they'd rather have Minnesota Timberwolves guard/forward Andrew Wiggins or Phoenix Suns shooting guard Devin Booker.
The two are very close statistically, despite Booker being two years younger than Wiggins and having less of a support cast around him.
Three out of four GMs opted for Booker, decisively noting that his character, feel, and love for the game give him more than just an edge over Wiggins.
Said one GM: “Booker… not even close. Better scorer — game means more to him — stylistically fits today's game better — can be a #1 option.”
Said another: “Booker. Never been convinced of Andrew's desire to compete. Hesitant to trust after he dropped Bill (Duffy, Wiggins’s former agent) in the manner/timing he did.”
And, a third: “Booker. More driven & passionate on a consistent basis.”
Wiggins did have some support from one GM: “Close call. Probably Wiggins because he can play and defend multiple positions.”
Wiggins was the No. 1 pick of the 2014 NBA Draft, a highly-touted prospect out of Kansas — while Booker was drafted with the 13th pick of the 2015 NBA Draft, a sixth man in Kentucky's NBA-ready roster that managed to impress with his superior craft at mastering a jump shot.
Booker has also been the main cog in many buzzer-beaters and game winners in the last couple of seasons, including these gems from last season.
Booker nets 36 points, hits game-winner over Wesley Matthews (03/11/17)
Back when his career-high was only in the mid-30s, Booker exploded for a career-high 36 points against the Dallas Mavericks in Mexico.
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Booker drops 26 points, hits game-winning three-pointer vs. Knicks (1/21/17)
The 20-year-old made the most of his time at the Mecca, drilling a game-winning three to walk away from Madison Square Garden with a W.
Booker banks game-winner against Kings after shakedown of Matt Barnes (02/03/17)
Booker took on a grizzled veteran in Matt Barnes and gave him a massive shake off the triple threat position to bank-in a jumper from the elbow as the clock reached zero.
If those weren't enough, Booker also became the youngest and fastest player to score 70 points in a game in a double-digit loss to the Boston Celtics on March 24.
The Michigan native's massive potential was unforeseen coming out of college, but in only two seasons, he has shown the competitive fire to go toe-to-toe with the game's best; excelling under pressure and rising to the occasion when his number is called upon — making him a safer pick to have a more impactful career as the building block of any NBA team.
