For former NBA guard Jameer Nelson, Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns is a top 15 talent in the league.
The former Orlando Magic guard spoke with Ben Stinar in the Court Vision Podcast where they discussed all things basketball. One of the topics they touched upon was Booker, whom Nelson knows is one of the most lethal scorers in the league.
“I know he's one hell of a scorer — one of the best scorers in the league. But can he make the winning play? I don't know. I havent't seen it yet. I have seen him make shots. But ultimately, shooting the ball isn't all that the game calls for. He has to show me more as well. I love him as a talent. As I said, if you say top 15 talent in the league, he's right there.”
Nelson's statement will probably raise just a few eyebrows. After all, in just five seasons in the NBA, Booker has already been mentioned in the same sentence with the likes of Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady, and Kevin Durant. It's not just because of the records Booker forged, but he seems to be cut from the same cloth as those aforementioned: he's a pure scorer who can explode on any given night.
But as Nelson mentioned, there are still questions whether or not Booker can take his game to the next level. In other words, can Booker finally lead his team to a winning record? Only time will tell. But he sure has the tools to do it.