"That's where I was hoping" - Devin Booker reveals Eastern Conference team he felt was going to draft him
Devin Booker believed he was going to end up with the Miami Heat during the 2015 NBA Draft. However, the franchise selected Duke’s Justise Winslow at No. 10 over several multiple stars. Booker, who was regarded as one of the best players in the draft class went off the board just three picks later and was selected by the Phoenix Suns as the 13th overall pick.
Speaking to D'Angelo Russell on ‘The Backyard Podcast’, the 4x NBA All-Star revealed that he was hoping to be selected by the Heat.
“Oh no, Miami is where I was hoping. Cause Miami was my best workout, then I remember Pat Riley came and did the interview, and he’s like, 'We’re looking for a Klay Thompson-type player we need to up our shooting.' I just shot 40 in college. I’m like, 'Oh yeah.' I’m looking at spots down there by the arena.'"
To quickly compare, Booker and Winslow's careers were a stark contrast. The latter played five seasons with the Heat and averaged 9.0 points and 5.4 rebounds. He last appeared in the NBA G-League in 2024.
Devin Booker went on to become the face and the future of the Phoenix Suns, leading them to their first NBA Finals appearance since 1993. He averages 24.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 5.0 assists in his 598 games with the Suns.
Steve Kerr calls Devin Booker "the guy who has been adaptable"
Team USA head coach Steve Kerr was lavish in his praise for Devin Booker as the team guns for gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The Suns guard has been a constant fixture in his lineup, and the Golden State Warriors coach had his reasons.
"He's probably been the guy who's been most adaptable to go from a different role in the NBA to a new one here. He's such a big scorer in the league, but just like in Tokyo, he's adapted to being an on-ball guy, ball mover, the offense clicks when he's out there, and the defense is really good. That's why he's started every game and seems to be good with any combination,
The numbers don't show the complete picture with Booker averaging just 11.0 points from his first two games. However, he has been an active presence on the defensive side of the floor and has shot at a good clip from the field (60.0%) and from the three-point line (71.0%).
Devin Booker's versatility makes him a vital cog in the Team USA unit filled with seasoned campaigners. It remains to be seen if he will walk away with a gold medal in the next few days. As for his NBA career, the Suns will be glad to have him in their fold.