Devin Booker has been nothing short of outstanding in his very first postseason, leading the Phoenix Suns to the conference finals. His nightly performances have now earned him a wild comparison by Stephen A. Smith to the late Kobe Bryant, who has been a mentor of Booker's for many years. Take a look:
"Devin Booker is the next Kobe Bryant."@stephenasmith | @FirstTake pic.twitter.com/09fxweor5p
— ESPN (@espn) June 21, 2021
I mean, it's definitely a bold take. But the way Devin Booker has been showing out says he could be on the same path as Kobe. Book is averaging 29 points, 7.4 boards, and 5.4 assists in the playoffs and has been one of the biggest reasons the Suns are well on their way to winning a potential title. In Game 1 of the conference finals on Sunday, the former Kentucky star collected a triple-double in a 40-point outing to help the Suns take a quick lead against the Clippers.
The attitude and chip on his shoulder that he plays with is certainly relatable to Bryant, too. Booker even has a tattoo that says “be legendary”, which Kobe said to him a number of years back. It's a quote that has always stuck with him.
Devin Booker has a long way to go to ever be as great as Kobe Bryant when it comes to actually winning rings and making numerous All-Star teams. But, he's showing the capability to take over a game on the big stage and lead his team to key victories. This is likely just the start.
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