NEW ORLEANS – Devin Booker spent his highschool years within the deep south of Mississippi, taking part in at Moss Level the place his No. 2 jersey is retired and the place his father, Melvin, additionally performed.
They’d drive a bit of over 90 minutes to New Orleans to observe NBA video games on the Smoothie King Middle. So it appears like house when Booker returns to play towards the Pelicans.
“It’s the ambiance greater than something,” Booker mentioned. “I really feel snug within the South. There is a southern drawl. If you happen to’ve by no means lived there, it is a bit of troublesome to elucidate, however these gyms have a particular vitality, a particular tradition.
These days, he is actually snug on this stadium. The Suns (12-8) start a three-game highway journey Thursday towards the struggling, short-handed Pelicans (4-18).
Booker scored 52 factors in every of his final two video games in New Orleans earlier this yr, on Jan. 19 and April 1 final season, each double-digit wins for the Suns.
The presence of household and pals brings out the beast in Booker.
“My household takes day out of their schedule to get right here,” Booker mentioned. “They’ve supported me for a very long time, since highschool. I at all times attempt to do one thing particular for them.”
It wasn’t nearly having a warmth in New Orleans towards the Pelicans for Booker. He cooked the Pels for 58 factors in a 118-114 victory on December 17, 2022 on the Footprint Middle.
Booker might expertise one other scoring explosion Thursday in New Orleans.
Losers of their final 9 video games, the Pelicans are 28th on protection and have the worst report within the Western Convention, however Booker would not underestimate them.
“Respect your opponent, perceive what these guys are able to,” Booker mentioned. “I’ve been taking part in towards (CJ McCollum) for 10 years. I do know what he’s able to. Clearly, BI (Brandon Ingram) is a star. Dejounte (Murray) is a good participant and I even have plenty of confidence in Willie Inexperienced.
Inexperienced was an assistant underneath Monty Williams when the Suns reached the 2021 Finals.
“We all know what they’re able to,” Booker continued. “They’ve had the damage bug all season, however I believe a couple of of those guys are again.”
Pelicans ahead Zion Williamson stays out with a strained left hamstring, however the Suns are overwhelmed by Kevin Durant for this three-game highway journey that ends with a back-to-back weekend towards Miami (10- 10) and Orlando (16-8). .
Durant is again in Phoenix, recovering from a sprained left ankle suffered in Tuesday’s win over San Antonio to cap a six-game homestand. He’s due for a re-evaluation subsequent week.
“Everybody has to offer a bit of extra,” Booker mentioned. “Execution down the stretch goes to play a giant function. He carried us in his arms this yr, however all of us have to offer a bit of extra. He brings plenty of issues defensively that he is not recognized for. We should defend ourselves within the paint. Simply talk.
The booker will not have to fret about selecting up tickets for household and pals on Thursday night time. “I let my dad deal with it,” Booker mentioned. “It’s normally between 50 and 100.”
Do you will have any ideas on the present state of the Suns? Contact Suns insider Duane Rankin at [email protected] or contact him at 480-810-5518. Observe him on X, previously Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.
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This text was initially printed on Arizona Republic: Booker seeks to ‘do one thing particular’ for his household in New Orleans
