Following Team USA capturing its fifth-straight Olympic gold medal with a 98-87 win over France, U.S. coach Steve Kerr was not asked about the contributions of Devin Booker in his postgame press conference.
“He was incredible this entire round. Just what he does, play to play to play. Rock solid. Completely changed his role from the NBA to now.” (via David Aldridge and Washington Post’s Ben Golliver)
USA's Steve Kerr at the end of his press conference: “Devin Booker is an incredible basketball player. Nobody asked about him. He was our unsung MVP. I just wanted to say that.”
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) August 10, 2024
Booker, now a two-time Olympic gold medalist, had 13 of his 15 points in the first half tonight, leading the U.S. in scoring at halftime, and also finished with six rebounds and three assists in 28 minutes. His primary matchup, Isaia Cordinier, went 0-for-5 from the field, after coming into the game on a hot streak. Booker did all of this while starting alongside four former MVPs in Stephen Curry, LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Joel Embiid.
Devin Booker with seven of the first 12 points for Team USA, including this layup off a beautiful pass from LeBron James 🔥 #Suns #USABMNT #Paris2024 #Olympics pic.twitter.com/MiKgdkBB06
— Burn City Suns Talk 🎙️ (@BurnCitySuns) August 10, 2024
This performance was exemplary of Booker’s play throughout the entire Olympics. Booker led the U.S. with a +130 plus/minus through the team’s six Olympic games and five exhibition matchups. He had a team-high 18 points in the U.S.’s quarterfinals win over Brazil on Tuesday and averaged 11.7 points on 56.8% shooting from the field, 56.5% shooting from 3 and 3.3 assists in 22 minutes per game throughout the Olympics.
Shining on the world stage 🥇
Book & KD each averaged 10+ PTS on over 50+ FG% & 3P%! pic.twitter.com/voiDfzaqxz
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) August 10, 2024
Kerr praised Booker multiple times throughout the run.
“(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,” Kerr said last Friday after the U.S.’s first two Olympic games. “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.”
In training camp before the team had even played a game, Kerr called Booker “a perfect FIBA guy.”
“(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.”
Booker did not end up on the first or second all-Olympic teams, but he won over a lot fans with his ability to adapt to the role Team USA needed him to play on a game-by-game basis to help the Americans ultimately win gold.
Booker delivered the promise he made on X back in September. After Kyle Kuzma said Team USA needed more role-playing NBA stars “cool with defending and going to the corner for a few possessions,” Booker responded with “I’ll do it.” This came after the U.S. finished fourth in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, a tournament Booker did not play in.
He did it 🥇🥇 https://t.co/mTFTAd0TwL pic.twitter.com/kqUZNu5BFI
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) August 10, 2024
At only 27 years old, Booker will likely be one of the faces of the U.S. team in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games because of how well he has played in his international career.
Suns’ fans can only hope this Olympic run gives Booker a lot of confidence heading into the 2024-25 season.
Devin Booker wins over haters with Olympic brilliance
