The Paris Olympics gave the world a new perspective on Phoenix Suns“Star guard Devin Booker. That’s the magic of the Olympics: They make you cheer for athletes you wouldn’t normally support. I can’t say I’ve ever rooted for LeBron James in the NBA, except maybe in 2007 when his The Cleveland Cavaliers were swept away by the San Antonio Spurs In the final. That’s typical of me. I fight for someone who is destined to lose.
But earlier this month, I really enjoyed the experience of supporting the King. And many, for the first time in their lives, found themselves supporting Devin Booker.
What they saw was not the Booker we are used to. He played a tertiary and sometimes a fourth role. He played full-court defense. He hit the boards and focused on doing the little things that would allow those around him to succeed. We are used to Alpha Book. The world saw Beta Book.
Even though Booker’s performance in Paris isn’t directly reflected in his performance in Phoenix, seeing his success and the world’s reaction to our beloved Sun was gratifying. He left Paris not only as a gold medalist, but also as someone who reshaped the national narrative around him.
Devin Booker impressed a lot of people, including his teammates.
Minnesota Timberwolves Point guard Anthony Edwards, who usually replaced Booker as an alternate at the Olympics, was one of those teammates. In an interview with Jalen Rose with Kevin Durant present, he said as much.
“Steph had great games, he had great games,” Edwards said, pointing to Durant. “LeBron had great games, but Book was defending the best player, denying shots. Because Book had 70 points, you know what I mean? I’m not going to lie, I was impressed watching him.”
The respect Booker commands across the league is no secret. Kevin Durant and Chris Paul, both future Hall of Famers, didn’t come to Phoenix by accident. They came to play with him. And now, young Anthony Edwards is finally getting a clue why.
As Devin enters his 10th NBA season, he is far from the wide-eyed kid from Moss Point, Mississippi, who once settled for scoring on a losing team. Today, he is a two-time Olympic gold medalist, four-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA player. At 27, he is both a seasoned veteran and still in his prime.
The narrative around him has evolved, though we won’t fully understand what that means until after the season is over. The NBA is a popularity contest, after all, and maybe the big guns will finally give him what he deserves, earning him more accolades.
Does it really matter? Probably not. But that’s the reality of the NBA and one of the benefits that could come from his summer adventure in Paris. We want a title, and seeing Decin Booker deliver it would be the greatest moment. And if he won one, guess what? Everyone would hate him all over again.
