Devin Booker is the greatest player EVER in Suns history

[Superbone]

It’s tough to know if this is accurate or not, but he seems to take on the personality of Star with whom he’s paired. Felt like very different bookers alongside Paul vs alongside kd.

Let's hope we see a new reinvigorated Booker next season. HE will be the vet on the team of young guys. Hopefully Beal is gone. No more deference to your elders. Let's go!

 

[Hoop Head]

Let's hope we see a new reinvigorated Booker next season. HE will be the vet on the team of young guys. Hopefully Beal is gone. No more deference to your elders. Let's go!

I don't think Booker deferred to Beal like he did KD or Paul. There's a respect but it'll be interesting to see going forward. I'm not on the Beal buyout train because he had a positive influence on the Gauchos. To me it was clear Booker was imitating KD so his removal was a requirement to get Booker on track. I don't know if Beal was a factor or not.

I admit that I like Bradley Beal the man so I may cut him some extra slack. He always tried to give it his all but he didn't recognize his limitations. If he isn't willing to accept he can't do what he did before then he has to go.

 

[Yuma]

I am hoping Ott has told Booker, I want you to lead this team. Clearly as the best player with KD gone, he needs to take on that responsibility.

 

[95pro]

I am hoping Ott has told Booker, I want you to lead this team. Clearly as the best player with KD gone, he needs to take on that responsibility.

I’m sure they have already pushed this narrative on him. Which is why they are building around him and not looking for another 1A. All in on Book

 

[Hoop Head]

This will be an interesting year for Book. He's getting thrown in the deep end and we'll see what he can do. It's not just a matter of producing but also being a leader. I don't think the play in is out of reach and if he can get this squad there then he'll earn his title as the #1 Sun.

 

[Yuma]

This will be an interesting year for Book. He's getting thrown in the deep end and we'll see what he can do. It's not just a matter of producing but also being a leader. I don't think the play in is out of reach and if he can get this squad there then he'll earn his title as the #1 Sun.

I got the feeling he was trying to step up when Coach Bud told him to back off. It will be fun to see his style as a leader.

 

[Hoop Head]

DBook throwing out the first pitch in Detroit

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[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Kobe tanked multiple Laker seasons through flat out stat padding.

His "obsession to win" is grossly overrated IMO, he also drove off teammates who threatened his spot light, while Booker has perpetually sought ways to make the Suns better.

Kobe was, in most ways, a superior player, but if you gave Booker Kobe's athletic gifts, he'd be an absolute monster, his lack of high level athleticism is his primary weakness. And if Kobe had Booker's mindset, Kobe doesn't break up the early 2000s laker dynasty, he also doesn't tank that Detroit series by being a ball hog.

He also isn't a rapist, but that's beside the point.

No player, ever, has benefited more by circumstance than Kobe Byrant. He was a very good player, but not even remotely the best of his era. He only succeeded when his roster was swimming with unworldly talent and he was coached by, arguably, the greatest coach of all time, and when that was not the situation, he actively went about undermining his own team.

I’m no Kobe stan but this is ridiculous. Other than gasol his next best teammate in his later title run was Lamar Odom and a young Bynum. That’s hardly otherworldly talent.

Kobe obviously had some very negative character traits and running off shaq was the single most foolhardy thing he could have ever done, but to hear you tell it he was an a-hole version of Michael Beasley. That’s just not accurate.

 

[GatorAZ]

I’m no Kobe stan but this is ridiculous. Other than gasol his next best teammate in his later title run was Lamar Odom and a young Bynum. That’s hardly otherworldly talent.

Kobe obviously had some very negative character traits and running off shaq was the single most foolhardy thing he could have ever done, but to hear you tell it he was an a-hole version of Michael Beasley. That’s just not accurate.

Kobe was carrying some absolute trash rosters to the playoffs and once they got one really good player in Pau they were contenders. That’s no coincidence.

Btw old scouting reports hit different:
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You must be registered for see images attach

 

[BirdGangThing]

kobe was the closest thing to jordan we've ever seen - tremendous amount of respect on his name and the way he played the game

it wasn't about shaq getting the spotlight it was about shaq wanting the ball as much as kobe - and that couldn't happen because there's only one ring to rule them all

truth is kobe was the alpha over shaq and you can't have two alphas - shaq wouldn't listen and couldn't make a free throw so he had to go - jordan would've done the same thing

we've never seen anything close to jordan or kobe since - that kind of confidence shouldn't have been seen in back to back generations - technically i think bird had the gene too (back to back to back) it was an astronomical fluke - but i think kobe would have been that good whether jordan existed or not

they literally felt - no - they knew - they knew were the best player in the world and were the best chance of winning any game ever - it was obnoxious and truly amazing

 

[BirdGangThing]

i have bird > magic

 

[AzStevenCal]

I’m no Kobe stan but this is ridiculous. Other than gasol his next best teammate in his later title run was Lamar Odom and a young Bynum. That’s hardly otherworldly talent.

Kobe obviously had some very negative character traits and running off shaq was the single most foolhardy thing he could have ever done, but to hear you tell it he was an a-hole version of Michael Beasley. That’s just not accurate.

I agreed with much of what he said, just not to the same extent. IMO Kobe was definitely overrated. He was a me first ball hog who quit on his team a few times. He was no Jordan, not all that close IMO but he was arguably the best player in the game during much of his prime. And, during his era, being a me first ball hog was almost the standard for his position. He was an all time great with an incredible work ethic who maybe wasn't quite as great as some have made him out to be and his untimely death just added to his legend.

 

[ajcardfan]

i have bird > magic

That's debatable. Based on head to head record. But it's a debate I don't want to have. Both were epic talents.

 

[Mainstreet]

Looks like a Devin Booker thread is being hijacked.

 

[Hoop Head]

Kobe's untimely passing has played a role in reshaping his legacy. Great player, absolutely, and anyone who denies that doesn't know basketball. He was probably top 5 in talent of his generation as the #4 or #5 behind Shaq, Duncan, and Dirk. He was a healthier and luckier version of TMac, who was a much better offensive player. He was a larger version of Iverson but Iverson had a win at all cost mentality that Kobe didn't. Kobe won so he goes ahead of them based on accolades but that's it.

 

[Lorenzo]

Kobe's untimely passing has played a role in reshaping his legacy. Great player, absolutely, and anyone who denies that doesn't know basketball. He was probably top 5 in talent of his generation as the #4 or #5 behind Shaq, Duncan, and Dirk. He was a healthier and luckier version of TMac, who was a much better offensive player. He was a larger version of Iverson but Iverson had a win at all cost mentality that Kobe didn't. Kobe won so he goes ahead of them based on accolades but that's it.

Thank you for mentioning dirk. IDK that he gets enough credit for the amount of work that he put into his game and how he evolved from a perimeter ball handling player to a post player late in his career. People seem to think that dirk was a post player for his entire career and that was not the case especially in the first few years of his career. dirk always had superb clutch scoring throughout his career, but too often took the blame for the Mavs playoff failures. Dirk killed off so many games for the mavs when the score was close. I miss seeing that type of consistency from an athlete with my favorite teams. I do think Kobe was the best player of that post Jordan era and Lebron took that torch as Kobe left his prime.

 

[Yuma]

i have bird > magic

I have Magic > Bird. LOL

 

[Yuma]

That's debatable. Based on head to head record. But it's a debate I don't want to have. Both were epic talents.

Both different, too.

 

[Phrazbit]

I’m no Kobe stan but this is ridiculous. Other than gasol his next best teammate in his later title run was Lamar Odom and a young Bynum. That’s hardly otherworldly talent.

Kobe obviously had some very negative character traits and running off shaq was the single most foolhardy thing he could have ever done, but to hear you tell it he was an a-hole version of Michael Beasley. That’s just not accurate.

He had a hall of fame forward in his prime in Gasol, one of the best defenders in the NBA in Ron Artest, Odom who was reeeeally good, Bynum when he was still trying, a bunch of good role players and arguably the best coach in NBA history.

He was obviously better than Booker but he his toxic behavior and egregious ball hogging torpedoed the Lakers franchise in the mid 2000s. He only stopped when Phil Jackson came back.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

He had a hall of fame forward in his prime in Gasol, one of the best defenders in the NBA in Ron Artest, Odom who was reeeeally good, Bynum when he was still trying, a bunch of good role players and arguably the best coach in NBA history.

He was obviously better than Booker but he his toxic behavior and egregious ball hogging torpedoed the Lakers franchise in the mid 2000s. He only stopped when Phil Jackson came back.

All that’s true. Same is true for most champions.

Jordan had pippen (HOF), defender (Horace or Rodman), a slew of good role players and the same coach.

Shaq had penny/Kobe/wade (both HOF and penny was likely if not for injury) and excellent role players everywhere he went. And the same coach.

Duncan had two of the best 2nd and 3rd bananas in Parker and Ginobili and also had David Robinson and kahwi. And top flight role players. And one of the top two coaches of all time.

LeBron has had HOF players in Wade, AD, kyrie, top defenders like Bosh and a slew of top role players and all stars like love and played for spoelstra (credit for winning in in Cleveland).

Pierce, kg, and Allen all had each other.

Olajawon had Clyde, great role players in horry, cassell, jet, Maxwell, the power forward (name escapes me), elie, and was coached by tomjonovich.

What you listed that helped Kobe has really kind of been the norm rather than the exception.

 

[Phrazbit]

All that’s true. Same is true for most champions.

Jordan had pippen (HOF), defender (Horace or Rodman), a slew of good role players and the same coach.

Shaq had penny/Kobe/wade (both HOF and penny was likely if not for injury) and excellent role players everywhere he went. And the same coach.

Duncan had two of the best 2nd and 3rd bananas in Parker and Ginobili and also had David Robinson and kahwi. And top flight role players. And one of the top two coaches of all time.

LeBron has had HOF players in Wade, AD, kyrie, top defenders like Bosh and a slew of top role players and all stars like love and played for spoelstra (credit for winning in in Cleveland).

Pierce, kg, and Allen all had each other.

Olajawon had Clyde, great role players in horry, cassell, jet, Maxwell, the power forward (name escapes me), elie, and was coached by tomjonovich.

What you listed that helped Kobe has really kind of been the norm rather than the exception.

I'm not saying it's not a team effort.

None of those guys were toxic douchbags who would shoot their team into oblivion and constantly drove away talented teammates. Kobe's "mamba mentality" probably did more harm to his legacy than good. People remember it fondly because of his buzzer beaters but he only has so many because he was a monumental ball hog who actually shot very poorly in clutch situations.

One thing he and Booker do have in common is that they both have played very poorly in elimination games though. Womp womp.

 

[JRakes]

Booker’s just trying to maximize his dollars. He won’t bail on the suns bc they can pay him the most money throughout his career. Even suggesting he is anywhere near Kobe’s level is preposterous and insulting. This is coming from an AZ native who hates all things LA.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I'm not saying it's not a team effort.

None of those guys were toxic douchbags who would shoot their team into oblivion and constantly drove away talented teammates. Kobe's "mamba mentality" probably did more harm to his legacy than good. People remember it fondly because of his buzzer beaters but he only has so many because he was a monumental ball hog who actually shot very poorly in clutch situations.

One thing he and Booker do have in common is that they both have played very poorly in elimination games though. Womp womp.

Eh, your quote was “No player, ever, has benefited more by circumstance than Kobe Byrant” - and then you raised all those items. I’m just showing you that your original statement isn’t all that accurate. Almost all the top players over the past 20 years have had VERY VERY similar circumstances.

 

[Phrazbit]

Eh, your quote was “No player, ever, has benefited more by circumstance than Kobe Byrant” - and then you raised all those items. I’m just showing you that your original statement isn’t all that accurate. Almost all the top players over the past 20 years have had VERY VERY similar circumstances.

Fair, but I do think he got an egregious amount of support, those teams were loaded inspite of him.

I know a lot of Laker fans who lament that Kobe couldn't get help after 2011, but he couldn't get help because no one wanted to play with him, even he and Pau (while they later became good friends in retirement) fueded.

My main point is that Kobe's mentality was a bigger hindrance than a help, they could have done more if he wasn't a prick and ball hog.

 

[CardNots]

All the talk about Kobe brings back memories of sitting on our hands thinking he would fall to us in the draft.