/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62701865/usa_today_11863387.0.jpg)
Remember after the Suns lost to the Knicks last season, when Enes Kanter got into a huge Twitter beef with Jared Dudley? If you don’t recall, here’s the exchange, which featured Kanter photoshopping Devin Booker holding an “L” afterwards.
Hold that “L” kid.
— Enes Kanter (@Enes_Kanter) January 27, 2018
Talk to me nice or don’t talk to me at all... pic.twitter.com/tS3mLgClTA
You talking like you in the playoffs bruh!!! You not Westbrook bruh!! Don’t let that Knicks hype fool you! We know what you are a fake tough guy who like twitter! We already saw Lebron son you! https://t.co/YD0j0J1jCy
— Jared Dudley (@JaredDudley619) January 27, 2018
Get on the treadmill before you talk bro.
— Enes Kanter (@Enes_Kanter) January 27, 2018
You got the retirement body https://t.co/X6GuST1kft
Your as corny as you look Boi! Just remember this NBA fraternity knows exactly who you are! One of the worst pick n roll defender in the NBA! Now hold that L kid! https://t.co/fcD6CwaFK4
— Jared Dudley (@JaredDudley619) January 27, 2018
About 11 months later, Booker must’ve had this marked down in his calendar because he played with a purpose on Monday night at Madison Square Garden. Booker finished with 38 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals on 11-23 FGA.
On top of that, Suns players were going straight at Kanter from the opening tip. Whether it was abusing Kanter in pick-and-roll situations or bringing in their energizer bunny Richaun Holmes to swat him to the ground, they made it rough for the Turkish big man.
Richaun throws him to the ground with the REJECTION! pic.twitter.com/GeIZRgQvdI
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) December 18, 2018
Sure, Kanter did have his moments getting to the foul line and snatching offensive rebounds, but, in the second half, Deandre Ayton completely wiped him out of game. As Ayton mentioned on Fox Sports Arizona’s postgame show, the Suns’ coaching staff showed him the halftime box score of how many offensive rebounds the Knicks had. Ayton looked like a man on a mission in the second half, dominating Kanter.
Following Phoenix’s 128-110 win in New York, Booker finally responded to Kanter’s tweet from almost a year ago. It was simple, yet so effective that it completely ended this beef. You have to feel bad for Kanter at this point, because wherever he plays next season, Booker will surely never let up on him.
♂️ “Pick n Roll at 00 every time” https://t.co/riaizpFpZV
— Devin Booker (@DevinBook) December 18, 2018
Suns Twitter (including us here at Bright Side) started having a lot of fun at Kanter’s expense following Booker’s flamethrower of a tweet.
Live look-in at Booker vs. Kanter pic.twitter.com/GLt4LCuuUj
— The Bright Side (@BrightSideSun) December 18, 2018
— /r/SUNS (@Suns_Reddit) December 18, 2018
New York will travel to play Phoenix on March 9 at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Let’s hope for Kanter’s sake he’s shipped off at February’s trade deadline, because it might get even uglier the next go-around in Booker’s territory.
Kanter might have thought he won the battle, but last night proved Booker won the war.