Watson: Booker’s historic year will be recognized ‘once he reaches peak’
Apr 9, 2017, 3:08 PM | Updated: 5:27 pm
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker gestures after he scored a basket, as fans cheer him at TD Garden in the fourth quarter of the Suns' NBA basketball game against the Boston Celtics, Friday, March 24, 2017, in Boston. Booker scored 70 points, but the Celtics wonp 130-120. Booker is just the sixth player in NBA history to score 70 or more points in a game. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
(AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
For Suns head coach Earl Watson, Devin Booker’s sophomore campaign is not getting the recognition it deserves, but he thinks that will change in the future.
Speaking before the Suns’ Sunday game against the Dallas Mavericks, Watson heaped praise on the 20-year-old guard for his performance this season.
“I don’t think you can really pick one area and say ‘this is where he’s striving’ or ‘this is where he’s grown most’,” Watson said. “As Russ (Westbrook) and James (Harden) are having historical years in the NBA, and LeBron, you have quietly a young guy in the NBA having a historical year that is gonna be talked about later once he reaches peak.”
Booker, a product of Kentucky, is putting up 22.1 points and 3.4 assists in 35.2 minutes per game. His season accomplishments include becoming the sixth player to score 70 points in a game, back-to-back 39-point outings and a couple game-winners.
Watson has a theory about why Booker’s 37-point performance against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday got more attention.
“You start to see people around the league and around the country start to talk about him even more as if it’s something new,” Watson said. “I guess they just all decided to watch because Russ’ could’ve broke the record.”
Watson called Friday’s game a “perfect timing for Devin to take stage and capture it.”
The opposing coach on Sunday also had positive reflections on the Suns’ guard.
“He’s wired to try to be great, there’s not doubt in my mind, and he’s on his way,” Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said.
With only two games left before the season ends, the Suns (23-57) are almost done with the season. Watson discussed how he has handled managing the young players, including Booker.
“They all have their own journey of development and eventually we want them to the come to the same destination,” Watson said. “It’s pretty much been the narrative of them all season. The summer is gonna be very important for them.”
