Phoenix Suns: Does Devin Booker have a little Kobe Bryant in him?
By Jordan Jones
Phoenix Suns’ Devin Booker is off to a great start in his young career, and has a bit of Kobe Bryant in him
Devin Booker has already made his mark on the NBA as one of the league’s best young scorers but does his game remind you of anyone familiar?
Kobe Bryant…perhaps?
Of course, you can’t really compare Devin Booker (right now) to the “Black Mamba” Kobe Bryant, but what about future Devin Booker?
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Booker is in his third year and is already showing signs of leadership that you don’t normally see this early. He has the responsibility of being the team’s franchise player, and he is surprising expectations while doing so.
Booker has already recorded an absurd career-high 70 points in a game last season, a number that he likely won’t ever surpass. Before his 70-point outing, many were already turned on to the potential this kid carried. But after this historical performance, those conversations only grew louder and broader.
So, is there any Kobe Bryant in Devin Booker’s game?
Well, for one, they’re both similar in size and stature. Kobe was listed as 6-foot-6 and 212 pounds during his playing days. Booker is similarly listed at 6-foot-6 and 210 pounds.
They also both seemed comfortable on the offensive end since their first minute on the floor.
| Player | Season | Age | G | MP | FG% | 3P% | 2P% | eFG% | FT% | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Devin Booker | 2017-18 | 21 | 30 | 34.3 | .444 | .385 | .476 | .511 | .875 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 3.4 | 25.0 |
| Kobe Bryant | 1998-99 | 20 | 50 | 37.9 | .465 | .267 | .494 | .482 | .839 | 5.3 | 3.8 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 3.1 | 19.9 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 1/5/2018.
When looking at Booker’s and Bryant’s numbers from their third season, it should be noted that Kobe was playing with Shaq, so he wasn’t asked to carry the entire team. Considering that he was still able to average 20 points per game is actually quite impressive. But their numbers, overall, are quite similar.
Booker is averaging 25 points 4.4 rebounds and 4.3 assists in his third season, and has improved his numbers in each of these categories with every year he’s been in the league. Last year, according to NBA.com, Booker led the league with the most game-winning buzzer beaters.
And when you think of the NBA’s most clutch players historically, Kobe Bryant has the be the second name that comes to mind after Michael Jordan.
Devin Booker has a long road ahead in his NBA career, but he’s off to a heck of a start. He has all the potential in the world, and no question has one of the highest ceilings in the league right now.
Kobe Bryant ended his career with five NBA Championships, one NBA MVP award and made the NBA All-Star game 18 times. Oh, and in his final game he scored 60 points. Sixty.
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Booker might never “catch” Kobe when it comes to his accolades and overall numbers, but it’s almost impossible not to see that little resemblance of him in the young budding star.