Devin Booker was recently featured on ESPN, where he spoke about the impact that Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan had on him.
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Phoenix Suns All-Star Devin Booker is one of the brightest young talents in the league today. At just 24 years of age, Booker has made the city of Phoenix love him for his loyalty.
The former All-Rookie player has often stated what a positive impact the legendary late Kobe Bryant had on him. Booker has imitated his game around Kobe’s. It is clearly visible as coincidentally many of Booker’s moves look identical to that of Bryant’s. He said:
“Not having a favourite superhero growing up, it wasn’t Batman or Superman for me, it was Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan.”
‘To Book, be legendary’: Devin Bookers reminisces the advises Kobe Bryant gave him
There obviously no better suggestion to take than the legend Kobe Bryant – an 18-time All-Star and 5-time NBA champion. Devin Booker looks back and remembers the advice Kobe gave him the first time they played against each other. Booker said:
“I went right to his move. I went right to the Kobe fade away.”
Bryant came up to Booker and said “You know what? I did the same thing when I matched up with MJ the first time.”
“He (Bryant) told me what it was going to take to get there. … He told me I have the footwork, I have intangibles to be legendary. It’s finding more and wanting more and going to get more.”
Kobe Bryant even signed shoes for the former Kentucky player. One shoe said ‘To the young one,’ and the other one said ‘To Book, be legendary’. Devin Booker didn’t use these words are just words on shoes, he used it as fuel and as motivation.
Today Devin Booker is leading a young Phoenix Suns team along with veteran point guard Chris Paul. In his 6th NBA season, the guard is averaging 23.8 points, 4.2 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game while leading the Suns to an astonishing 15-9 record to place the Suns team 4th place in a stacked Western Conference.
