Devin Booker revealed on a YouTube video with D’Angelo Russell that he wanted to go somewhere else other than Phoenix in the 2015 NBA Draft.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!When asked about his pre-draft process in 2015 as Booker and Russell were drafted the same year, Booker talked about one team that stood out more than others:
“(Miami) is where I was hoping because Miami was my best workout,” Booker said. “And then I remember (Heat president) Pat Riley, he did an interview, and he’s like, ‘We’re looking for a Klay Thompson-type player. We need to up our shooting.’
“I just shot 40 (percent) in college. I’m like, ‘Oh yeah, I’m looking at spots right down there by the arena.’ The draft is crazy, though, man, your life changes like like that and you have no control over it, really.”
(3:55 in the video below)
The Heat ended up drafting Justice Winslow with the No. 10 overall pick. Winslow was in the G League all of last season and bounced around the NBA after his first five years with the Heat and struggled to find his footing. The 6-foot-6 forward also wasn’t really known as a “Klay Thompson-like shooter.”
Meanwhile, Booker fell to the Suns at 13 and has developed into that and more, ascending to arguably the top shooting guard in the league.
Furthermore, Booker is in a place he loves in Phoenix, as he looks to bring the city its first NBA championship. This fall, he will enter his 10th season in the NBA, all with the Suns.
Safe to say, even after some dogged years at the beginning of his career, Phoenix has worked out nicely for Booker.
Devin Booker scores 9 points to help Team USA close out group play 3-0
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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
