{"id":1368383,"date":"2021-06-01T22:56:48","date_gmt":"2021-06-02T02:56:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/?p=1368383"},"modified":"2021-06-02T11:17:35","modified_gmt":"2021-06-02T15:17:35","slug":"devin-booker-credits-basketball-legend-right-backyard-success","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/news\/devin-booker-credits-basketball-legend-right-backyard-success\/","title":{"rendered":"Devin Booker Credits Having a Basketball Legend ‘Right in Your Backyard' For His Success"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Phoenix Suns<\/a> guard Devin Booker has been around several impressive veterans in his six seasons in the NBA. He's learned from guys like Tyson Chandler, Leandro Barbosa, Ricky Rubio, and now future Hall of Famer, Chris Paul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During his journey from back-of-the-lottery draft pick to Suns' star scorer, Booker gives one player he's been around more credit than most for teaching him the right way to be a professional: Phoenix Mercury and all-time WNBA great, Diana Taurasi<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Devin Booker has developed into an NBA superstar<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Devin
Devin Booker | Photo by Thearon W. Henderson\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Booker, the son of a former NBA player, played one year at Kentucky before declaring for the 2015 NBA draft. His time under coach John Calipari was relatively unimpressive on a team that included the eventual No. 1 overall pick, Karl-Anthony Towns<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Booker averaged 10 points as a Wildcat along with 1.1 assists and 2.0 rebounds in 25.1 minutes per game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Suns took a chance on the 6-foot-5 shooting guard at No. 13 even though NBA teams didn't see Booker as a top prospect in that draft. Teams selected players like Jahlil Okafor, Mario Hezonia, and Emmanuel Mudiay ahead of Booker, as well as three of his Kentucky teammates: Towns, Willie Cauley-Stein, and Trey Lyles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Booker quickly rewarded the Suns for their pick by making the All-Rookie Team. In the next several years, he became one of the best pure scorers in the league, even putting up 70 points in a single game<\/a> in 2017. For his career, he's made two All-Star teams and averaged 23.0 points, 4.5 assists, and 3.7 rebounds with a 57.1 true shooting percentage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Booker credits some of his development to watching “the greatest of all time,” WNBA legend Diana Taurasi, work<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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