Like many young players in the NBA, Devin Booker admired the late, great Kobe Bryant during his playing days. The Black Mamba’s tireless work ethic and outstanding play with the Los Angeles Lakers made him a role model for anyone who wants to become a star in the league.
Booker himself became a mentee of Bryant early in his career because they shared a similar playing style and desire to be the best. Until Kobe’s tragic death, the young Phoenix Suns guard did his best to emulate him on the court.
Although Booker admits that Bryant gave him some knowledge that was crucial for him in the NBA, he does not want to be compared to the Hall of Famer. The 24-year-old explained on Monday in an appearance on The jump.
“I haven’t really thought about it too much,” Booker said when asked about his thoughts on the Kobe comparisons. “I know everyone’s doing that now. But I haven’t made that comparison myself. I just go with what he did for me as a mentor and the advice he left me. So I try to adopt parts of his mentality and his approach.”
“But you know, I should never be compared to Kobe Bryant.”
Booker’s answers make sense for a few reasons. At such a young age, he hasn’t quite reached the standard Bryant set early in his career. It’s also very possible that the Suns star wants to carve out a unique path for himself rather than being compared to one of the greatest players of all time.
Booker may not want to tarnish Bryant’s legacy in any way, but what he has done so far in the 2021 NBA postseason has been Kobe-like. The 24-year-old guard helped lead the Suns through the playoffs and into the NBA Finals, where he was the team’s most consistent point scorer. In 21 games during his first postseason as a pro, Booker averaged 27.7 points, 4.5 assists and 5.8 rebounds per game, all on an impressive .565 shooting percentage.
Despite the 24-year-old’s brilliance, the Suns are trailing 3-2 heading into the second leg of the NBA Finals in Milwaukee. Booker will have to put in another heroic performance if he wants to keep Phoenix’s title hopes alive.
The post “Devin Booker responds bluntly to Kobe Bryant comparison” first appeared on The Spun.
