Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker gives credit where credit is due. After all, he knows that without the likes of Kobe Bryant and Chris Paul mentoring him, he won’t be able to reach the level he is in  today.

After scoring 40 points on top of 13 rebounds and 11 assists to lead the the Suns to a 120-114 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers, Booker reflected on his growth as a player and how he has always been a “student of the game.” He then mentioned Bryant and Paul playing a big role to prepare him for the biggest of moments.

The Suns youngster also highlighted how the absence of CP3 in the game motivated him even more, as he wanted to give the veteran leader the W while he remains in quarantine for COVID-19 health and safety protocols.

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For what it’s worth, even before the opener of the Western Conference Finals, Devin Booker has gotten a lot of comparisons to Kobe Bryant. Interestingly, Book did show some shades of the Black Mamba in Game 1 of the West Finals, particularly in the third quarter when he dominated with 18 points through his midrange play.

Booker continues to grow right before our eyes as he establishes himself as a legitimate superstar worthy of attention, and he should be credited for the hard work he has put in. However, there’s no doubt we shouldn’t forget to thank Kobe and Paul for helping unleash the full potential of a player who is on his way to becoming one of the faces of the NBA.