‘Kobe Bryant was here’, Devin Booker gets emotional after thrashing the Lakers
Devin Booker had a night to remember on Thursday as he guided the Phoenix Suns to a series-clinching Game 6 victory against the Lakers in Los Angeles. In Phoenix’s 113-100 triumph, the guard played 46 minutes and scored a game-high 47 points. He shot 15 of 22 from the field (8 for 10 on 3-pointers).
‘Kobe is in the building, proud (of Booker)’
The 24-year old went off the floor at Staples Center after he and his team ended the Lakers’ title dynasty. While doing so, he looked at something that inspired him to finish the job before the series returned to Phoenix. Booker put his hands together and looked upwards at Kobe Bryant’s retired jerseys while walking into the tunnel.
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During a post-match virtual press conference, Booker said, “Honestly, I was thinking about Kobe Bryant and the conversations that we had. Kind of about what we just went through, the postseason, and being legendary and taking the steps to get there. So seeing that 8 and that 24 up there, with the way that the lighting at Staples has right here, it feels like it’s shining down on you. And I know he was here tonight. I know he was here tonight. I know he’s in the building. I know he was proud.”
Kobe wanted Booker to be legendary
“Be Legendary”, the late great Kobe Bryant told Devin Booker after handing him his Nike Kobe Bryant 11 sneakers during the two’s final encounter as the legend played his last season in the NBA. On one sneaker, Bryant wrote “To Book Be Legendary!” and on the other, “To The Young Gun!”
Since Bryant’s untimely death in January 2020, the young Suns guard, who idolizes him and wears his Nike signature line sneakers, has been inking ‘Be Legendary’ on his boots before every game. He even has a tattoo of the quote on his arm.
Kobe Bryant signed shoes for Devin Booker back in 2016 and told him to ‘Be Legendary’
Today, Devin Booker reveals a new ‘Be Legendary’ tattoo 🙌 pic.twitter.com/57xCGFxTm3
— Dime (@DimeUPROXX) March 4, 2020
The Phoenix shooting guard was on fire
Devin Booker showed no signs of pressure against the reigning champs. In a close-out game at the Staples Center, he came out hot, igniting the Suns to a large early lead and ensuring that they would lead the rest of the way. Booker’s early barrage of 22 points in the first quarter gave Phoenix their highest advantage of the first half, 29 points.
He steadied the ship with critical shots in the second half, especially when the Lakers cranked up their defense and were making a run, to help the Suns secure the most appreciated triumph. His outstanding effort on Thursday ensured that the Suns’ eliminated the LA Lakers and advanced to the Conference Semifinals, which happens to be their first playoffs participation since 2010.
Booker’s 47 game points proved his postseason career-best and the third highest in the club’s postseason history. After six games in his first postseason appearance, Devin Booker is averaging 29.6 points and 6.2 rebounds. The next job for Booker and the Suns is to defeat the Nuggets in the Western Conference semifinals, which begin on Monday.
