We’ve seen outrageous talent go to waste time and time again. From LeBron’s first eight years with the Cavs to Kevin Garnett with the Timberwolves, countless seasons of some of the all-time greats’ primes have been wasted due to poorly run front offices. Eventually, these players get tired of losing with impressive yet meaningless stat lines, and they decide to move onto bigger and better things. Booker, who’s now being shut down for the rest of the season, could be next.
Talent at Stake
Last week, Booker had an insane three-game stretch with a whole lot of points. 157 of them, good for 52.33 PPG on 61.96% from the field and 47.83% from three. Maybe it’s only three games, but it’s confirmation that his absurd 70-point game against the Celtics a couple of years ago was no fluke. He’s an incredible offensive player, who can get buckets better than most could ever even dream of.
He can score finishing at the rim, pulling up from midrange, stepping back for three, or cutting for an easy layup. Not only does he have a very well-rounded arsenal (especially for a 22-year-old), but he’s putting in the work to improve his game too. His points, FG%, and assists have gone up every single season since his rookie year. He possesses the raw talent needed to succeed and the work ethic to match.
There are some questions about how good Booker really is, mainly due to the fact that his team keeps losing. In all three of the games where Booker put up 59, 50, and 48 points, the Suns lost－just like they did in his 70-point performance. Maybe this means he’s a one-dimensional player who doesn’t make his teammates better and doesn’t contribute to winning. But, the truth is, it’s unfair to judge him so harshly when he hasn’t gotten a reasonable opportunity with a decent team around him to prove those doubters wrong.
People don’t ask “What if Kobe had a worse team?” They ask “What if T-Mac had a better team?” That’s not the legacy Booker would want, nor the one he deserves.
Losing out on a franchise player
Along with
Anthony Davis and the Pelicans are the perfect of example of what can happen when a good player isn’t backed up by a good team. After his first six seasons with a 218-274 record and a rocky start to this season, AD decided he had enough and requested a trade. He waited until his seventh season and won’t be on a new team until at least his eighth. Booker might see that and decide he needs to act faster to make the most of his career.
Losing out on a potential franchise player could set the Suns back years. If they’re a lottery team with him, they don’t want to know where they’d be without him.
Bottom line: if Booker doesn’t get help in the near future, the Suns will have wasted part of his career, along with a great opportunity for them to build around a potential superstar. Suns fans, the clock is ticking.