Suns: Booker Shines in All-Star Weekend Debut
At just 19 years old and in the midst of an impressive rookie year, Devin Booker has quickly made a name for himself and is well on his way to becoming the face of the franchise for the Phoenix Suns.
In just his first season in the NBA, Devin Booker, also known as the youngest player in the league, was given the nod to participate in the All-Star Break festivities, as well as represent the Phoenix Suns as the only player to be selected.
In the Rising Stars Challenge, the game that showcases some of the best young talent in the game, Booker hit 5 three-pointers and finished with 23 points for Team USA. Booker earned a late roster spot as he replace the injured Nerlens Noel.
The next night, Booker competed in the 3-point contest and was the youngest to do so in NBA history at 19 years and 106 days old. In the first round, Booker eliminated James Harden and J.J. Redick, two of the most elite three-point shooters in the game.
Despite his inexperience, Booker finished in third place behind the two best shooters on the planet, Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. Booker’s 16 point effort in the final round was not enough to edge the “Splash Brothers”.
More from Heat Waved
- Arizona Coyotes: Slumping Strome Shipped to Chicago
- Arizona Cardinals Paid Sam Bradford $6.75 Million Per TD Pass
- Former Arizona Basketball Star Allonzo Trier Remarkably Efficient Lately
- Arizona Coyotes: How Coach Rick Tocchet Sparked His Offense
- Arizona State Basketball Has Two Transfers Ready to Compete
Thompson would eventually go on to win the contest with an incredible 27 points and for the second consecutive season, the 3-point contest winner belonged to the Warriors, when Curry won in 2015.
Selected 13th overall in the 2015 NBA Draft, Devin Booker has lived up to all of the expectations. In just 48 games, the youthful rookie is averaging 10.6 points per game and has heated up as of late, dropping 16.6 PPG over his last five contests.
Booker, who was drafted out of the University of Kentucky in 2015, represented the Wildcats over the All-Star weekend, along with other former Wildcats. Kentucky alumni Karl-Anthony Towns, Devin Booker, Trey Lyles, Nerlens Noel, DeMarcus Cousins, Anthony Davis, and John Wall, were all selected to be involved in the weekend entertainment in Toronto.
He is young, he is consistent, and unfortunately for the opposition, he is only getting better. After an impressive debut in his first All-Star weekend, Devin Booker has given himself an opportunity to enjoy a long-lasting and successful career.