"Devin Booker is a perfect FIBA guy": How Steve Kerr, Team USA Basketball view the Phoenix Suns guard's role at Paris
For almost a decade, the multi-year NBA star has tried to address the misconception that he offers more than just aggressive scoring and high-volume shooting. It only took Devin Booker one stint with the U.S. Men’s Olympic team to shed that tag completely.
“Book is a perfect FIBA guy,” Team USA coach Steve Kerr said.
The main reason?
Team USA enters group play of the Paris Olympics against Serbia on Saturday with Booker showing he can operate in what he called a “whatever-I-gotta-do role.”
In Team USA’s five exhibition games, Booker mostly thrived as both a starter (three) and a reserve (two). Booker averaged a modest 5.6 points as a starter. But he shot efficiently in one game (3-for-4 vs Canada), finished with a high plus-minus in another (+14 vs South Sudan) and made up for a 1-of-6 shooting night with two rebounds, one assists, and one block (vs Germany). As a reserve? In Team USA’s win over Australia, Anthony Davis (17 points) and Booker (16 points on 4-for-7 shooting) led the second unit in scoring, while Booker added three rebounds, two assists and a steal. Booker had only three points on 1-for-3 shooting and an assist against Serbia, but he finished with a strong plus-minus (+21).
Booker offered similar value with Team USA during the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. As a starter in five of six games, Booker averaged 9.3 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 20.7 minutes per contest. Kerr added Booker did a “great job” as both a passer and defender. In both stints, Booker acquiesced effectively to Team USA’s main headliners in 2021 (Kevin Durant, Jayson Tatum) and in 2024 (LeBron James, Stephen Curry).
“I’m down to do whatever it takes,” Booker said. “I understand you’re not scoring 30 points a game and you might not touch the ball at all. Or you might not get in the game. But just being okay with that and being fine with that and understanding that you’re representing something that’s bigger than you. You’re representing the whole country.”
Technically, Booker has a much different role during his nine-year NBA career with the Phoenix Suns. He became a four-time NBA All-Star and three-time member of an All-NBA team for his prolific scoring, aggressive driving and dependable outside shot. With Team USA, he has become a valued two-way player for both production and intangibles.
Jrue Holiday has mastered that job description in similar fashion both during his NBA career and on Team USA. Booker doesn’t play the same way Holiday does. In fairness to Booker, though, he has proven adaptable throughout his career in Phoenix with both his skillset and co-existing with star teammates. Long ago, Booker disproved that he was just a statstuffer on a bad team. He willingly shared ball-handling duties with Chris Paul en route to an appearance in the 2021 NBA Finals. Despite two early first-round exits amid team-wide injuries the past two years, Booker thrived with Durant as a willing playmaker. Regardless, Booker maintained aggressiveness and efficiency. When Booker plays with role-playing teammates, he naturally looks to score. When Booker plays with star teammates, he naturally makes decisions based on how opponents defend him. With Team USA? Booker thinks more like a role player, but plays confidently like a star.
“He was one of our key players. So that’s why he’s back here,” Kerr said. “We knew how much we needed him. I’m so impressed with Book’s ability to understand that and recognize the role change, but still hit the big shot and be looking forward to a big moment.”
Booker prepared for this big moment much differently than in the Tokyo Olympics.
After the Suns lost to Milwaukee Bucks in six games in the 2021 NBA Finals, Booker flew to Tokyo immediately and had only five days to prepare for Team USA’s first game against France in Group Play. For better and for worse, Booker did not inherit a condensed itinerary ahead of the Paris Olympics. Following the Suns’ first-round sweep to Minnesota on April 28, Booker spent the past three months both stewing over the team’s shortcomings and preparing for his second Olympics appearance.
“The season ended too short for us. I just kept it going,” Booker said. “I didn’t take any time off. I’m in some of the best shape of my life right now.”
That should leave Team USA feeling relatively encouraged at a time when it faces question marks elsewhere. Durant has not played in any of the exhibitions while nursing a strained right calf that Kerr insists will heal soon. Team USA squeaked out single-digit wins over South Sudan and Germany, exposing both the international game’s growth and the program’s vulnerability. And Team USA continues to iron out both chemistry and rotations.
Though Team USA’s chance to win its fifth consecutive Olympic gold medal mostly will hinge on Durant’s health, LeBron James’ enduring dominance and Stephen Curry’s shooting, Booker has shown he can boost Team USA’s fortunes with both his willingness and ability to adapt to any role.
“We just have to get involved in other ways,” Booker said. “The ball is not going to be in your hand the whole game. You might have to get an offensive rebound and defend better than you usually do and make the extra pass that you usually don’t make.”
Mark Medina is an NBA insider for Sportskeeda. Follow him on X, Instagram, Facebook and Threads.