Happy 22nd birthday Devin Booker: Oh the Places You’ll Go!

Oh the places he’s gone. Phoenix Suns shooting guard Devin Booker has seen so much in the NBA before turning 22 years old, it boggles the mind.

Oh the places you’ll go! There is fun to be done! There are points to be scored. There are games to be won.

He hasn’t won too many games in his three NBA years for an intentionally-tanking team, but he’s reached milestones on an individual scoring and distributing level not seen often in NBA history.

Among all players before turning 22, per basketball-reference.com ...

• Youngest ever to record a 70-point game
• 2nd most 30-point, 5-assist games (LeBron James)
• 4th most 30-point games in NBA history (LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony)
• 5th most 5-assist games from a non-point guard (LBJ, Gilbert Arenas, Tyreke Evans, Lamar Odom)

Fame you’ll be famous, as famous as can be, with everyone watching you win on TV,

Except when they don’t because sometimes they won’t.

Booker’s teams have only been on national TV a few times in his three years.

The world watched the Suns beat the Mavericks less than two weeks ago on ESPN, featuring Booker’s 19-point 4th quarter outburst to put the game away.

But before that, Booker’s Suns were only on national TV (ESPN or TNT) a paltry 13 times in three seasons, going 5-8 in those games. Booker missed three of losses with injury.

Wednesday’s game against the Spurs is on ESPN - Booker’s last guaranteed chance to show the world how good he is. Unless his hammy is still hurting, that is.

Just never forget to be dexterous and deft. And never mix up your right foot with your left.

Booker’s had a few nagging injuries, most notably a groin strain last year that cost him 9+ games and then a right hand injury that cost him the last three weeks of last year and lingered into this one.

Now it’s a hamstring that’s held him out of the two weekend games and threatens to continue keeping him out this week.

You’ll get mixed up, of course, as you already know. You’ll get mixed up with many strange birds as you go.

So be sure when you step, Step with care and great tact

and remember that Life’s a Great Balancing Act.

Hopefully the great places include a more-stable coaching staff and roster around him.

Booker has had four head coaches — Jeff Hornacek, Earl Watson, Jay Triano and Igor Kokoskov — in only three full seasons.

But that is not all. Oh no, that is not all.

He has had 50 different teammates in 3+ years, and only TWO teammates the whole time he’s in been the league (T.J. Warren, Tyson Chandler).

You will come to a place where the streets are not marked. Some windows are lighted. but mostly they’re darked.

A place you could sprain both your elbow and chin! Do you dare to stay out? Do you dare to go in?

How much can you lose? How much can you win?

Through those 50 teammates and four coaches, Booker has seen his Suns win just 27% of their games.

That’s losing three out of every four-game stretch, for those of us who are math-challenged.

The Suns were consistent at least: they went 10-31 at home last year, and 11-30 on the road on their way to a league worst offense and league worst defense.

This year’s 1-5 start is marked by 1-1 at home, 0-4 on the road.

Darked windows indeed.

And will you succeed? Yes! You will, indeed!

(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)

KID, YOU’LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!

So...be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Brayor Mordecai Ali Van Allen O’Shea, you’re off to Great Places!

Once that hammy injury clears up, Booker can resume his stellar career and hopefully put the Suns on his back on the way to some more wins.

His numbers in four games this season are an astounding 27.8 points on 51% shooting, 6.8 rebounds and 4.5 rebounds and he is armed with a $158 million contract to stay for at least the next five years after this one.

Today is your day!

Your mountain is waiting.

So...get on your way!