Devin Booker thought he was going to be drafted by Miami: 'They were looking for a player like Klay Thompson'
D’Angelo Russell: I thought he was going to Miami. Devin Booker: That’s where I was hoping… Miami was my best workout, and then I remember, I think Pat Riley came into he did an interview and he’s like ‘we’re looking for a player like Klay Thompson, we need to up our shooting.’ And I just shot 40 in college… I’m like ‘oh yeah’, I’m looking at spots right down there by the arena… Draft is crazy, your life changes like that, you have no control over it really.
Source: YouTube
Source: YouTube
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
Donatas Urbonas @Urbodo
Devin Booker gave his shoes to a young man who came to the USA vs. Puerto Rico game in Lille with a banner asking for sneakers. pic.twitter.com/zTEshfY0Oa – 2:13 PM
Devin Booker gave his shoes to a young man who came to the USA vs. Puerto Rico game in Lille with a banner asking for sneakers. pic.twitter.com/zTEshfY0Oa – 2:13 PM
Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
Devin Booker layup on one end, forces shot clock violation on the other.
Team USA up 75-54 in the 3rd. #Suns #TeamUSA #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/aSU8eG7aYD – 12:29 PM
Devin Booker layup on one end, forces shot clock violation on the other.
Team USA up 75-54 in the 3rd. #Suns #TeamUSA #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/aSU8eG7aYD – 12:29 PM
Kellan Olson @KellanOlson
Loved how Booker wanted to set himself up to throw a lob to LeBron. Maybe next time! – 12:22 PM
Loved how Booker wanted to set himself up to throw a lob to LeBron. Maybe next time! – 12:22 PM
Austin Krell @NBAKrell
The LeBron behind-the-back pinpoint pass with his right to Embiid cutting on the baseline was insane, but him destroying PR’s coverage on the Booker screen with a lefty bounce pass leading Book to the paint was also sensational. Off hand, in front of the moving target. Precise. – 12:08 PM
The LeBron behind-the-back pinpoint pass with his right to Embiid cutting on the baseline was insane, but him destroying PR’s coverage on the Booker screen with a lefty bounce pass leading Book to the paint was also sensational. Off hand, in front of the moving target. Precise. – 12:08 PM
Gary Washburn @GwashburnGlobe
39pt 2Q for Team USA and it lead Puerto Rico 64-45. Edwards 12, Curry 8, Tatum 8, James 8,Durant 8, Booker 7. #Paris2024 – 12:05 PM
39pt 2Q for Team USA and it lead Puerto Rico 64-45. Edwards 12, Curry 8, Tatum 8, James 8,Durant 8, Booker 7. #Paris2024 – 12:05 PM
Kellan Olson @KellanOlson
Nice bit of The Nuisance there from Booker in transition to get Tatum a free bucket – 11:54 AM
Nice bit of The Nuisance there from Booker in transition to get Tatum a free bucket – 11:54 AM
Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
Kevin Durant 8 points.
Devin Booker checks back in. Team USA up 44-41.
#TeamUSA #Suns #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/fAC8uBKVZ9 – 11:53 AM
Kevin Durant 8 points.
Devin Booker checks back in. Team USA up 44-41.
#TeamUSA #Suns #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/fAC8uBKVZ9 – 11:53 AM
Austin Krell @NBAKrell
Short of the controller dying on that pass to Booker, thought Embiid showed improvement in that first stint – particularly on defense.
Closing the window high in coverage, blew up a play in the paint, good contests at rim. – 11:36 AM
Short of the controller dying on that pass to Booker, thought Embiid showed improvement in that first stint – particularly on defense.
Closing the window high in coverage, blew up a play in the paint, good contests at rim. – 11:36 AM
Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
Devin Booker to Jayson Tatum for dunk.
Team USA down 25-17 to Puerto Rico. #TeamUSA #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/ljBmIBbdPE – 11:32 AM
Devin Booker to Jayson Tatum for dunk.
Team USA down 25-17 to Puerto Rico. #TeamUSA #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/ljBmIBbdPE – 11:32 AM
Jeff Zillgitt @JeffZillgitt
Starting lineup for U.S. men’s 5×5 Group C game vs. Puerto Rico:
LeBron James
Steph Curry
Joel Embiid
Jayson Tatum
Devin Booker – 11:08 AM
Starting lineup for U.S. men’s 5×5 Group C game vs. Puerto Rico:
LeBron James
Steph Curry
Joel Embiid
Jayson Tatum
Devin Booker – 11:08 AM
Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
Bam Adebayo again off bench for Team USA today 11:15 a.m. vs. Puerto Rico.
Starters:
Stephen Curry
Devin Booker
LeBron James
Jayson Tatum
Joel Embiid – 11:04 AM
Bam Adebayo again off bench for Team USA today 11:15 a.m. vs. Puerto Rico.
Starters:
Stephen Curry
Devin Booker
LeBron James
Jayson Tatum
Joel Embiid – 11:04 AM
Evan Sidery @esidery
Team USA’s third game in group play begins at 11:15 a.m. ET against Puerto Rico.
Stephen Curry, Devin Booker, Jrue Holiday, LeBron James, and Joel Embiid will be their starting lineup. pic.twitter.com/6UExTe95oz – 10:01 AM
Team USA’s third game in group play begins at 11:15 a.m. ET against Puerto Rico.
Stephen Curry, Devin Booker, Jrue Holiday, LeBron James, and Joel Embiid will be their starting lineup. pic.twitter.com/6UExTe95oz – 10:01 AM
More on this storyline
“We made an offer to him, it’s well chronicled, in the fall, substantially higher than what he ultimately did end up signing for. So I thought it was very fair,” Lacob said of the reported two-year, $48 million offer before last season. “Very fair, if not more than fair at the time. We’re trying to anticipate what the market is for him. We’re trying to be really fair to him and recognize him for who he is. And so we did that and that was not acceptable to them. That’s their choice. At that point, you know, we sort of have to go to free agency, we told them. Get closer to that day and see how the team is forming, so how we do this year, and see how the team-forming process was going. And we were doing that. “But you know, to be frank and honest, Klay made the decision prior to the beginning of free agency and he informed us of it that his intention was to not come back. … He called me and said the same things you heard (at Klay’s Dallas news conference). Klay is an open book. He felt he needed for a variety of reasons to have a fresh start. -via New York Times / July 26, 2024
ClutchPoints: “I’m happy as hell he gone. The reason I’m happy he’s gone is because he wasn’t happy no more. As a brother, I only want what’s best for you, not what’s best for me, not what’s best for this team.” Draymond Green on Klay Thompson going to the Mavs 👀 pic.twitter.com/wwNORTZ6qm -via Twitter @ClutchPointsApp / July 25, 2024
Brandin Podziemski on Klay Thompson: “Getting a call from him a couple of days ago, and him telling me I’ll always have a brother in him for life is pretty cool. We can’t wait to go against him and compete against him when we play Dallas.” -via NBC Sports Bay Area / July 20, 2024
“You never know when your moment is going to be,” Booker said. “I try to be solid all around even if it’s not scoring the ball. Just defending at a high level, making sure everybody is involved and making sure there is space for guys to do what they do.” -via Arizona Republic / August 2, 2024
“Just understanding you have to play a role,” Booker said. “I always took pride in being able to do a little bit of everything on the court. It’s not always going to be our scoring ability. You’re not always going to get the ball. Just locking into the details of the game.” -via Arizona Republic / August 2, 2024
Ben Golliver: Steve Kerr said he Joel Embiid received DNP-CD against South Sudan because USA wanted to better match up with their team speed. – Kerr will start LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Devin Booker, Jrue Holiday and Embiid versus Puerto Rico on Friday. -via Twitter @BenGolliver / July 31, 2024