After a record setting rookie campaign in many respects, Phoenix Suns 19-year old guard Devin Booker played like a man among boys in the SummerSuns opening win over the Portland Trailblazers on Saturday.
Booker was still the third youngest player on the court, and overall one of 10 youngest players among the 24 teams participating in Las Vegas Summer League this week.
Yet, when he put up 28 points, grabbed 8 rebounds and dished 6 assists in a convincing Suns win, he showed that he is head and shoulders above the Summer League crowd.
"This is the NBA," he said afterward. "It's a man's league."
Here's ESPN's take on Booker's day.
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And here is NBA.com's take as well.
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Booker scored 18 points in the third quarter of the game, all keyed off a scuffle that occurred when Noah Vonleh got stuck like glue to Booker on screen attempt.
"Things got a little chippy out there," Booker said afterward. "That's what I expect in Summer League. A lot of people are fighting for position. I respect the competitiveness. I respect the chippiness. I had fun out there. At the end of the day, my young fellas stuck with me. I know I'm young, I'm only one year older. But we had fun and got the win."
I heard Booker say to Alex Len, who had been watching from the stands along with several other Suns vets, that he planned to play maybe one more game before getting rest before practicing with the Team USA Select team next week as they prepare for the Olympics.
Still, the Suns might shut Booker down after that virtuoso performance on Saturday. If they do shut him down, rest assured that one of the youngest players in Vegas is already one of the best.