Phoenix Suns shooting guard Devin Booker. (Photo : Getty Images)
Suns sophomore shooting guard Devin Booker recently claimed his desire to spend his entire career in Phoenix and he had proven his potential to become a future star in the NBA with praises from his Team USA teammates and coaches.
SB Nation indicated that the 19-year-old Booker, who is said to be the future of the Suns franchise, "continues to say and do all the right things" when he declared that he wants to be a professional that gets to stay in a single team for his whole career.
"I love it in Phoenix and I want to be one of those guys that gets drafted by one team and stays there the whole time," said Booker. "You know, they turn around the franchise, and they get love for that in that city like they're the mayor. People still wear Steve Nash jerseys here. That's definitely something I want to be."
Phoenix head coach Earl Watson commended the teenager's attitude and approach to being a professional basketball player, saying that Booker is "never afraid" and decisive on what he wants to achieve.
"He's 19 and he's never afraid. That's what I love about him," Watson said. "He wants it. You have a lot of players in this league that say they want it, but when they get the chance to get it, they really don't want it. You can just see it. You can feel it. But this kid really wants it."
Meanwhile, Fansided reported that the former Kentucky standout "already looks like one of the best two-guards in the league" during the scrimmages between the US' senior basketball squad and the Select team where Booker is included.
Finishing fourth in last season's Rookie of the Year race is an indication that Booker indeed has the skills to remain valuable in the NBA for years to come. But his attitude is the key thing that has the potential to boost him to future stardom.
The 13th overall pick of the 2015 draft also received praises from Team USA members, which means that Watson and the Suns are not making a mistake in placing him in the team's starting lineup next season.
"To see his growth just in his rookie year, he's going to be one of the best two-guards in this league one day," Klay Thompson said, referring to Booker after one Team USA practice.
Timberwolves head coach Tom Thibodeau, who is serving as an assistant to the Olympic squad, also had high praises for the 6-foot-6, 206-pound shooting guard.
"He had a great rookie season. The way he shoots the ball, the way he carries himself. He works extremely hard on both sides of the ball, plays for the team, makes people around him better. He's been very impressive," Thibodeau said.
