Devin Booker practicing with NBA’s best at USA Basketball minicamp
Jul 27, 2018, 4:00 PM | Updated: 9:40 pm
Devin Booker, right, drives into Kevin Durant during a training camp for USA Basketball, Friday, July 27, 2018, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
(AP Photo/John Locher)
Phoenix Suns shooting guard Devin Booker isn’t going to get a much better offseason experience than what he’s going through in Las Vegas.
Booker, along with 34 other players, is running through a three-day minicamp for the USA Men’s National Team in Las Vegas. The player pool is expected to feature all of the players that will be on the 12-player 2019 USA World Cup and 2020 U.S. Olympic teams.
The 21-year-old Booker is new to the pool.
“It’s been unbelievable,” he said on Friday. “I was on the Select Team two years ago. I think this situation I am in is the next-closest thing to the Olympic team (and) we’ve got the World Cup next year.”
How much better does it get for Booker improving as a defender than facing off with the four-time scoring champ and former MVP Kevin Durant in a 1-on-1 drill?
DB & KD #USABMNT pic.twitter.com/VHMu8lSw1b
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) July 27, 2018
Being a part of the Team USA experience has been a big offseason boost for many, including Durant himself. Durant’s first tournament appearance for the team was at the 2010 FIBA World Championships when Durant averaged 22.8 points a game and earned MVP honors.
Devin Booker is going to be special…He has that killer ability to get off and make tough shots. #USABMNT pic.twitter.com/jAOp9hcjJ2
— Ball Don't Stop (@balldontstop) July 27, 2018
“Being around all these, really, legends of the game, mentors of the game — I’m just being a sponge here,” Booker said. “Taking all the information I can in and enjoying it.”
#ThisIsWhyWePlay @DevinBook x @usabasketball pic.twitter.com/TQM31FI6y1
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) July 26, 2018
The 2019 FIBA World Cup of Basketball will take place from late Aug. to mid-Sept. in China next summer while the 2020 Olympic Games are from late July to mid-Aug. in Japan.
