Suns’ Devin Booker eclipses 10,000 career points in win vs. Thunder

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker became the seventh-youngest player in NBA history to reach 10,000 career points in Wednesday’s 115-97 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Booker needed four points to hit the milestone before the game, and it took him less than two minutes to get there.

He hit a three-pointer to open the scoring, then an 11-foot pull-up jumper to eclipse the mark. Fitting that it came from midrange.

10K for Book 🤌 #ValleyProud pic.twitter.com/5NRm6c6h8d

— Bally Sports Arizona (@BALLYSPORTSAZ) December 30, 2021

Booker flew past 10,000 on Wednesday, as he scored a game-high and matched a season-high 38 points on 24 shots. The seventh-year veteran tied a career-high with six made threes.

He scored 12 points in the first quarter and nine in the fourth to help close the Thunder out.

Only LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, Tracy McGrady and Giannis Antetokounmpo reached 10,000 at younger ages. Booker is 25 years, 60 days old and missed Antetokounmpo by 15 days.

Booker is also the eighth Suns player to reach 10,000 points. He trails Walter Davis, Alvan Adams, Kevin Johnson, Shawn Marion, Dick Van Arsdale, Amar’e Stoudemire and Steve Nash on the franchise’s all-time scoring list.

10K FOR THE YUNG LEGEND.! @DevinBook 🥂

— JAE CROWDER (@CJC9BOSS) December 30, 2021

“Honestly, this one means a lot,” Booker told reporters postgame. “I give thanks to all my teammates, all my coaches who have put me the situation to be able to make this.”

He joked after Wednesday’s game that he would be at 12,000 if former Suns head coach Jeff Hornacek played Booker more when he was younger.

“I’m just messing around,” Booker said with a smile.

He gave a shoutout to all four of his Suns head coaches before Monty Williams and to his teammates for entrusting a young player to score as much as he has.

Booker has now scored 30 or more points in three of four games, and his season average is up to 23.7.

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