:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/53112673/usa_today_9210365.0.jpg)
Devin Booker is doing things that no player in Phoenix Suns history has ever done before. 28 points in the fourth quarter last month. 27 points in just over 7 minutes last week. Suns head coach Earl Watson says these performances remind him of a player Phoenix fans loved to hate for two decades.
“What you’re seeing right now is a player who during that stretch reminded me of Kobe.” - Coach Watson https://t.co/iQkY6R64i7
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) February 5, 2017
“What he did was pretty impressive in the fact that he’s only 20,” Watson said. “He still hasn’t gotten into his grown man strength yet. Eventually he will and those drives where he’s going to the basket will eventually be dunks.”
“The future is bright, and the future is happening now.”
I’m sure we’re all suffering from a little bit of a Super Bowl hangover. It’s cloudy in Vegas this morning and the office is putting me to sleep. I’d rather be at home with an Otra Vez watching a Slam Dunk Contest marathon. That’s a joke. I would never drink before 11a.
So it’s worth a discussion. Is anyone prepared to say Devin Booker is on his way to being the next Kobe Bryant? I’d respect the hell out of you for making the argument. Here are some numbers on Book so far:
| Season | Age | G | GS | MP | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | 2P% | eFG% | FT% | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 19 | 76 | 51 | 27.7 | .423 | 1.3 | 3.8 | .343 | .464 | .480 | .840 | 2.5 | 2.6 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 2.1 | 13.8 |
| 2016-17 | 20 | 50 | 50 | 34.8 | .424 | 1.9 | 5.1 | .373 | .444 | .477 | .831 | 2.9 | 3.2 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 2.9 | 21.2 |
| Career | 126 | 101 | 30.5 | .423 | 1.5 | 4.3 | .357 | .453 | .479 | .836 | 2.6 | 2.9 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 2.4 | 16.7 |
And here’s how Mamba performed through four seasons:
| Season | Age | G | GS | MP | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | 2P% | eFG% | FT% | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996-97 | 18 | 71 | 6 | 15.5 | .417 | 0.7 | 1.9 | .375 | .437 | .477 | .819 | 1.9 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 1.6 | 7.6 |
| 1997-98 | 19 | 79 | 1 | 26.0 | .428 | 0.9 | 2.8 | .341 | .456 | .469 | .794 | 3.1 | 2.5 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 2.0 | 15.4 |
| 1998-99 | 20 | 50 | 50 | 37.9 | .465 | 0.5 | 2.0 | .267 | .494 | .482 | .839 | 5.3 | 3.8 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 3.1 | 19.9 |
| 1999-00 | 21 | 66 | 62 | 38.2 | .468 | 0.7 | 2.2 | .319 | .489 | .488 | .821 | 6.3 | 4.9 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 2.8 | 22.5 |
| Career | 1346 | 1198 | 36.1 | .447 | 1.4 | 4.1 | .329 | .479 | .482 | .837 | 5.2 | 4.7 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 3.0 | 25.0 |
I’m not good with advanced analytics, but I’m also considerate enough to save you the “back in my day” discussion. So chop it up. What’s the ceiling on Devin Booker?