“I’ll do it.”
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Devin Booker posted this statement on X (formerly Twitter) back in September in response to Kyle Kuzma saying Team USA needed more role-playing NBA stars “cool with defending and going to the corner for a few possessions.” This came after the U.S. finished fourth in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, a tournament Booker did not play in.
I’ll do it https://t.co/77PBGNEQ0W
— Book (@DevinBook) September 12, 2023
This year, Booker is on Team USA in the 2024 Paris Olympics and doing exactly as he said. Though two starts that have both come in wins of over 15 points, Booker has averaged 11 points while shooting 8-for-12 from the floor and 5-for-7 from 3, as well as 5.5 assists and 1.5 steals to help Team USA start 2-0.
“(Booker’s) probably been the guy who’s been most adaptable to go from a different role in the NBA to a new one here,” Team USA coach Steve Kerr said Friday. “He’s such a big scorer in the league, but just like in Tokyo, he’s adapted to being an on-ball guy, ball mover, the offense clicks when he’s out there and the defense is really good. That’s why he’s started every game and seems to be good with any combination.”
(via Cronkite News’ Blake Niemann)
Steve Kerr discussed Devin Booker's adaptability from his role with the Suns to Team USA:
"He's probably been the guy who's been most adaptable to go from a different role in the NBA to a new one here. He's such a big scorer in the league, but just like in Tokyo, he's adapted to… pic.twitter.com/91i4L0LcXC
— Blake Niemann (@Blakes_Take2) August 2, 2024
During Team USA’s run to gold in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 that Kerr mentioned, Booker averaged 9.3 points, across six contests (five starts) to go along with 3.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.5 steals in 20.7 minutes per game. Of the five players who played the most minutes for Team USA, Booker averaged the fewest points, but was second on the team in steals.
Before the Olympics or any exhibition had even been played, Kerr, who was an assistant in 2021, called Booker “the perfect FIBA” guy at Team USA training camp in Las Vegas last month.
“(Booker) is the perfect example of a guy, who, in an NBA game, he is going to get 20 shots every night, (and) in ’21 in Tokyo, he was more of a defender, ball-mover, but did a great job and was one of our key players,” Kerr said on July 8. “That’s why he’s back here. We knew how much we needed him. And I’m so impressed with Book’s ability to understand that, recognize the role change, but still hit the big shot and be looking forward to a big moment. Book’s a perfect FIBA guy.”
After Kerr said this, Booker would go on to start three of the team’s five exhibition games and lead the U.S. with a +50 plus/minus through these five wins.
Kerr has already said Booker will get his third start of the Olympics on Saturday against Puerto Rico, even with the U.S. rolling out different starting lineups every game. There have been three consistent starters throughout every game: Booker, Stephen Curry and LeBron James.
“Every game, you know what is for me, just do what I gotta do,” Booker said in a video posted by the Suns Friday. “Whatever it is that game, if it’s scoring, if it’s setting people up, if it’s defending at a high level, whatever it takes to get gold.”
Scoring, playmaking, defense…
"Whatever it takes." – @DevinBook pic.twitter.com/WNTgfWaNbZ
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) August 2, 2024
Saturday’s game tips off at 8:15 a.m. MST and is the final matchup in Group C for the U.S., who have already clinched a spot in the quarterfinals but will be looking for the No. 1 overall seed with a big win.
Steve Kerr respects Devin Booker’s ability to change his role for Team USA
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Brendan Mau is a senior writer covering the Phoenix Suns and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @Brendan_Mau
