Tag: Booker

Steve Kerr praises Devin Booker’s performance for Team USA in Olympics

Steve Kerr made a point to praise the Suns guard for his performance in the Olympics.

While a lot of the attention coming off the final two games of Team USA’s run to gold in the Olympics surrounds Stephen Curry following back-to-back ridiculous performances from the Golden State Warriors guard, head coach Steve Kerr made a point to call out the performance of one specific player.

After Team USA secured gold with a thrilling win over France in Paris, Kerr spoke with members of the media in his postgame press conference. Before his presser came to an end, Kerr shared some high praise for Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker. Kerr called Booker Team USA’s “unsung MVP.”

Via @davidaldridgedc on Twitter:

Curry then took to Instagram to co-sign Kerr’s praise of Booker.

Via @CGBBurner on Twitter:

Booker was one of four players to score in double figures for Team USA on Saturday. Booker finished with 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting to go along with six rebounds and three assists in 28 minutes. Booker tallied 10 or more points in four of Team USA’s six games in Paris.

This post originally appeared on Warriors Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

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Nets want Devin Booker in trade with Suns for Kevin Durant, not Ayton

Reports indicate that the Brooklyn Nets want Devin Booker in a potential Kevin Durant trade with the Phoenix Suns.

As one the most talented players in the NBA requests a trade from the Brooklyn Nets, the organization is reportedly not willing to part with Kevin Durant only to receive DeAndre Ayton.

John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports reports that the team “is not interested in” Ayton, and “may have to make a deal without him or with a third team.”

Ayton is a very talented young big man who is looking for a change in environment. With an impressive skillset around the rim and lockdown paint defense, Ayton makes himself a trade target for any team needing a big across the league.

Now if Kevin Durant is absolutely determined to play in Phoenix, Brooklyn reportedly would only accept the trade if it means bringing sharpshooter Devin Booker to play in Barclay’s Center.

NBA insider Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report reports that the Nets want Booker back:

From Brooklyn’s perspective, sources said, there’s no deal to land Durant in Phoenix that doesn’t start with sending back Devin Booker to Barclays Center. The Suns, of course, would likely hold the line firm. But early indications are the Nets brass is not particularly inclined to take a sign-and-trade that brings back restricted free agent Deandre Ayton.

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Three takeaways from the Lakers’ 123-110 win over Phoenix

The Lakers get past the Suns at Staples Center

There have been times throughout this season where Anthony Davis has looked timid, uninterested, and at times not fully healthy. Sunday night was the Davis that Laker fans saw in the NBA bubble, as aggressively set the tone from the opening tip.

After a fast first-quarter start, the Lakers kept their foot on the gas in a 123-110 win over Phoenix. Davis finished with a game-high and season-high 42 points and ended the night with an emphatic reverse jam off of a lob from Alex Caruso.

With the win, Los Angeles stayed within one game of Portland as they try to get a top 6 seed and avoid the NBA play-in tournament.

Here are three takeaways from a game the Lakers had to have:

Mychal Mulder providing spark off the bench during Warriors 10-day contract

Mychal Mulder scored 14 points off the bench in Golden State’s comeback road win against the Suns.

Injuries and trades have opened up opportunities in the Golden State Warriors rotation. The Dubs have used the back end of their roster to take flyers with 10-day contracts.

The Warriors have rotated through four different players on 10-day deals with the latest being Mychal Mulder. Golden State plucked the 25-year-old shooting guard from the G League’s Sioux Falls Skyforce, where he averaged 17.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game while shooting 45.1 % from the field and 39.9 % from long distance.

Mulder made his Golden State debut against the Los Angeles Lakers, scoring two points while grabbing four rebounds. Against the Suns, with a limited Golden State bench, Mulder took advantage of his extended playing time.

The Kentucky product scored 14 points on 5-of-12 shooting in 34 minutes off the bench. Mulder was able to knock down three timely shots from beyond the arc while grabbing six rebounds in Golden State’s 18-point comeback victory.

After the win, Steve Kerr credited Mulder as a significant factor in the Warriors’ comeback.

Via Warriors SoundCloud:

I thought Mike Mulder played a big role in that. He came off the bench and missed his first four or five shots and very easily could’ve hung his head. He’s on a 10-day, and things weren’t going his way, but the job he did defensively on Booker and then getting a couple of shots to go late in the first half in the second quarter. I thought Mike really sparked us.

Defensively Mulder was matched with fellow former Kentucky Wildcat Devin Booker. The Suns All-Star scored a modest 21 points on 6-of-16 shooting with six turnovers.

Making a strong impression on the head coach while on a 10-day contract is a positive sign for Mulder’s future in the NBA. The 6-foot3 shooting guard’s performance against the Suns should earn him more playing time in the remaining days on his 10-day deal. Mulder will have four more games through the remainder of his contract with Golden State.