Kevin Durant on Devin Booker: ‘He’s really mastering who he is right now’

With the regular season winding down, the Devin Booker love is turning up.

In the latest episode of Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant’s The ETCs podcast released Wednesday, the forward gave Booker high praise while talking with J.J. Redick and The Old Man and the Three podcast. The episode dropped a day after the Phoenix Suns eliminated the Los Angeles Lakers from playoff contention behind Booker’s 32-point outing.

“It’s a pretty game for one,” Durant said. “I just think he’s really mastering who he is right now. He’s figuring it out, like how to play at an elite level and still win. He’s always scoring the ball but he knows how to win.”

It’s not the first time Durant has given props to Booker. During the Tokyo Olympics last year, Durant spoke highly of Booker.

“Lot of people look at him because he’s such a pretty scorer, he can do things so effortless,” Durant told reporters after the U.S.A. beat Spain. “But he is a savant. He wants to be an all-around basketball player.”

Durant’s latest comments come after former teammate and Golden State Warrior Draymond Green anointed Booker as his MVP for the season.

While the criteria changes year after year, Booker has made a strong case to at the very least be in consideration for the league’s top individual award.

This season (67 games), Booker is averaging 26.7 points, five rebounds and 4.9 assists over 34.3 minutes per game. He’s shooting 46.5% from the field and 38.3% from 3-point land.

“Devin Booker is the MVP of the NBA with as consistent as he’s been,” Green said on his podcast Tuesday. “He’s faced injuries, he’s come back, hasn’t missed a beat. Their team has continued to win, their leading the NBA in first place by a long shot. Got to go with Devin Booker as my MVP.”

Booker and the Suns take on the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday at 7 p.m. Tune to 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station for all the action. 

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