Phoenix Suns’ Devin Booker has had quite a year for himself. The guard has now racked the most points in a debut playoff campaign and looks to add more as the Suns trail 3-2 in the NBA Finals.
ESPN’s Stephen A Smith set the ball rolling by claiming Devin Booker to be the next Kobe Bryant. The 24-year-old has certainly followed in the footsteps of his idol with a commanding set of displays in the playoffs.
Booker has even set a mark on his debut finals appearance by scoring back to back 40 points. However, both of those exemplary performances went in vain.
While both share a similar style of play with their mid-range jumpers and more, they were connected off the court as well. Kobe Bryant acted as a mentor to young Devin Booker. The Suns ace ended up in the league through the draft during Kobe’s final season.
“Be Legendary” were the words of advice for Booker by the legend, and Booker is certainly making a case for it. While he wears those words every time he steps out on the court, he certainly feels that he should not be compared to the Lakers legend.
‘I try to take bits and pieces of his mentality and approach’, says Booker
Booker addressed the comparison talks during a talk with ESPN ahead of Game 6 in Milwaukee. He only aims to abide by the advice Bryant gave him.
“I haven’t really thought about it much. I know it’s something that everybody is gonna ask right now, and I didn’t make that comparison myself. I just leave it at what he’s done for me as a mentor and the advice that he’s left me with, so I try to take bits and pieces of his mentality and approach, but I should never be compared to Kobe Bryant.” Booker said
The Suns guard has arguably been the franchise’s best player in the ongoing roller-coaster NBA Finals. They are met with a very difficult proposition at hand since Bucks are only one win away from winning the NBA Finals.
Unless the Suns win both of their remaining matches, the wait for the elusive NBA trophy is set to continue.
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