Devin Booker has had a wild ride in his NBA career. As a member of the Phoenix Suns, he has experienced the full spectrum of life as a player—ranging from a promising rookie to franchise cornerstone, enduring the lows of a tanking team, and reaching the highs of a Finals-bound contender. However, his trajectory could have been vastly different.
A major Kobe Bryant fan, many are aware of Booker’s draft positioning. Similar to his idol, Booker was selected 13th overall by the Phoenix Suns in the 2015 NBA Draft. But that wasn’t the destination he had envisioned coming out of Kentucky. Despite being a consensus lottery pick, his exact ceiling was uncertain in an elite draft class featuring some of today’s best players. Yet, for all his wishful thinking, it could have been a touch higher.
Before the draft, Booker had high expectations of being selected by the Miami Heat with the 10th overall pick. A year removed from their fourth straight trip to the NBA Finals, the loss of LeBron James had hit them hard. As a result, the Heat went from perennial contenders to being lottery-bound. But with Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade still on the roster, Miami had the pieces to rebuild quickly.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns, Miami Heat Updates
Considering the player Booker has become, it’s not hard to imagine that Miami could have been back in the mix much sooner, even before the Jimmy Butler era.
The Draft Day What-If
Speaking on former teammate D’Angelo Russell’s podcast, Booker shared how he had envisioned himself donning a Heat jersey. “That’s where I was hoping. Miami was my best workout. I think Pat Riley even did an interview where he said they were looking for a Klay Thompson-type player, someone to up their shooting. I had just shot 40% in college, so I thought, ‘Oh yeah, this is it.’ I was looking at sports right down there by the arena.”
Reflecting on the Career That Could Have Been
A career star in the Valley, Booker is now a regular at the All-Star game, having made four appearances. With career averages of 24.3 points per game, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists, it’s safe to say Phoenix’s investment paid off.
Last season, one of his best individually, saw him average 27.1 points per game while shooting nearly 50% from the field.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns, Miami Heat Updates
So far, his career with the Suns has taken many turns. From the struggles of a bottom-feeder to the heights of a perennial contender, Booker has experienced it all. Yet, during that span, the Miami Heat have made multiple Conference Finals appearances and two trips to the NBA Finals.
One can only imagine what Devin Booker, paired with those Heat squads, could have potentially achieved.
Want the latest NBA analysis, breaking news, and insider information? Click Here. Follow NBA Analysis Network on Twitter and Facebook.
Interested in reading the latest storylines and analysis in the NFL? Check out our partner NFL Analysis Network.
Local Phoenix, AZ
Most Popular
Comments / 0