Devin Booker analysis | How empty are his stats? (2019) 

Thanks for all the support and feedback! Skilled players like this who are on really poor teams can be tricky to evaluate. Going to discuss this idea further on the Thinking Basketball podcast next week.

Devin booker been 22 his whole career

His ppg might be inflated but his shooting % is lower than it might be if there were other threats on the Suns. His scoring talent is undeniable.

Damn that defensive motor is low, like a 3 cylinder Toyota Tercel. Dude had his hands on his hips just standing next to the paint. 8:38

I’m so glad we don’t need to have this conversation anymore. What a player he’s blossomed into.

Man the last time I was this early, Team USA still had all-stars. Btw this is my favorite basketball channel! Your videos are always a treat.

You truly are a legend, you actually went through suns film!

Funny coming back to this now that he's a perennial all star (when not injured)

The one thing you can say about Devin Booker is that he’s improved every year. He’s still very young. I have faith in his ability to improve as a cutter and passer to eventually become above average. His defense, however, looks like it may end up being decent at best.

Great analysis. My worry with Booker is that he is becoming comfortable with losing so long as he gets his buckets, a common trend among young players but worst among alpha dog volume scorers. I think he needs to be the 2nd or 3rd option (you go too far with the 4th option, my man) before he can unlock his true potential.

Watching this made me realize how much he had progressed now

I would like to see an updated video now that he's on a good Suns team.

8 months later Booker has improved his efficiency like crazy cuz he finally has some decent role players around him

AH its crazy how 2-3 years can change. Ya gotta update this video.

Can you please do one on Karl Anthony Towns

It is hard to play off ball when your point guards were Isaiah Canaan and Crawford😅

I love how ppl try to put a cap on a guy that’s 22 yrs old and played with zero nba talent and then praise guys like Tatum/Mitchell who plays with all stars/Defense player of the year every year of there career analytics got y’all outta pocket

Phoenix Suns finally taking the ball out of Devin Booker's hands so TEAMMATES CAN SHINE. Ricky Rubio being a veteran point guard = a blessing.

My b-ball iq increases when I watch one of Ben’s videos

It’s easy to see why this channel is blowing up. You provide insightful and contextual analyses of players without using lazy arguments, and you explain everything with examples and then statistics. Hands down, the best basketball channel on RU-vid. Keep up the great work!!!

Maaaan every time I watch one of your breakdowns, I get such an appreciation for viewing tape. I'm trying to get a better eye for basketball, and become less of a general observer and more of a sharp-eyed fan. Your videos help a lot! And now I'm just impatient for the season to start again...

Motor may be higher on d when he isn't the primary scorer as well

love that you use percentile rather than percentage. that makes a lot more sense and you don't need to know the facts about what others shoot

Whenever I see "Thinking Basketball Uploaded: xyz" I get excited. When it's an analysis, I am the Energizer Bunny.

Great video as always. I don't know if it was just me, but your conclusion and your presentation felt disconnected for the first time in a video I've watched. I thought you were going to build up to say that he had potential to be a second option if he fixed his lazy defense and bad shot selection. Most of the criticisms felt like they were directed at either a lackadaisical attitude (probably from being on the Suns) or being inexperienced. I don't know if I'm the only one who felt this way, but it definitely felt like you were saying he was a good player with some kinks to work out throughout the video and the conclusion turned into that his ceiling was being a third option. For example, these were some of the criticisms you presented: He has poor shot selection, taking pull up threes in transition or shooting early in the shot clock. He eats up a lot of clock with the ball in his hands, killing opportunities. He's idle off ball. He leaves his feet before he decides what he wants to do with the ball. He doesn't get around screens properly, not staying connected to his man or "making himself skinny" as you described it. He isn't a great off ball defender, attributed to his lack of quickness and sloppy footwork. To me, a lot of those just seem like they can be coached out. Basically all of them except for his lack of quickness seem like they aren't physical things holding him back, just no direction from coaches. Something like taking a wide path around a screen seems like something that could be worked on. Shot selection can be worked on. It's a lot of mental stuff with him it seems from this video. And that leads to the main reason I wanted to comment: I wanted to say that I think there is some context you're not giving in this video that's needed for a situation like Devin Booker. I think you do a great job looking at context in a lot of videos, especially when it comes to what the film is saying versus what the box score or a fan's eyes are saying (like in the LeBron defense video). I'm not a Suns fan, but I do recognize the dysfunction in the team -- and I feel like that context at least explains some of the things you were criticizing him for (without excusing him, because great players raise the baseline of their team to a point where this wouldn't happen). Stealing from a Reddit post[1], this is the context I think matters in this case: 1. In four years, Devin Booker has had 54 different teammates. He averages approximately 13.5 different teammates per season. 2. In four years, Devin Booker has had 4 different head coaches. He averages 1 different head coach per season. (And he will get his 5th head coach in his fifth year, as well.) He's been on a lottery team who hasn't drafted (or developed) another player alongside him, and has had over 15 point guards (according to the reddit thread) in these four years while being asked to run the offense at times. I think these give a reason as to why those things look so bad (his defense, his shot selection, etc.). Again, it doesn't excuse him, but I think it gives reasons for why he doesn't try as hard as he could. With this context taken into account, I think your conclusion might have been too harsh. He is really good at scoring, and a lot of his defense is him not caring (not that I think he will become a plus defender, but I think he can turn into an only slightly negative one -- even you thought his on-ball defense was decent). Obviously #1 type players shine through even the worst situations, and Booker going into his fifth year doesn't look to me like he'll make the jump to a status like that in his career. But I do think he could be a #2 guy if he was playing for an organization that focused on winning, and not whatever the Suns have been focusing on for the last four years. I think the next two years will show the "real" Booker. Hiring Monty Williams and giving him 5 years is a good step, and will hopefully give Booker the environment he needs to refine his game. I love watching great basketball, and I think he can be a part of some great basketball. It's up to him to put in the work and show it now. [1] www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/aj1y5v/oc_devin_bookers_first_4_years_in_the_league_54/?st=jz4svilq&sh=922e1315

This analysis is great. I honestly can't think of many sports analyzers that can break down key metrics and footage like Ben can. Truly extraordinary content that I recommend to all of my friends that love basketball.

This channel makes me love and appreciate Basketball even more

I think he would be an automatic bucket whichever team you put him. He already got those numbers at 22. That's amazing!

thank the lord you're back !! best basketball analysis on youtube !!

I can watch these videos all day! Great analysis.

Awesome stuff, hope this is the first of a series of "most intriguing" type profiles for the new season.

Great video! Just a minor thing, but you were saying about Booker's footwork when he turns his hips to sprint. I think that is a thing that more and more defenders do as the game has gotten much faster. Definitely something you see Patrick Beverly do. Tony Allen used to that too. I think in your video example, its not so much the hip-leading footwork, but that his positioning to give Rubio that whole paint instead of angling to force sideline.

youre like the only channel i would stop what im doing to watch

Love your podcast ben🙂

Can’t wait to see your analysis of incoming rookies. And incredibly great content as always. This is my favorite basketball channel on RU-vid

Very detailed breakdown. Well done.

Phoenix Suns just put a dent in Booker's stats = more passes to DeAndre Ayton from veteran point guard Ricky Rubio.

I love the content this guy makes keep it up bro.....😁

Been a fan since the backpicks top 40 and the content just keeps improving! Keep it up Ben, the RU-vid channel and podcast are both amazing!

I can see him being like t-mac. Putting up great numbers but not being the kind of guy who leads his team in deep playoff runs

Love your channels, and really look forward to every analysis

I absolutely love your videos. Fair, well thought out, and articulate. I think Rudy Gobert deserves a treatment video. I feel like a lot of NBA fans have a hard time seeing why he deserves his All NBA status. His gravity on both ends doesn’t show up on highlights, and I think you could really show how valuable he is in one of your videos. All respect. I’ve been binging these videos for the past couple weeks. Very, very well done.

History of my copy of Thinking Basketball: Printed on demand 8/6/19. Arrived 8/8/19. Finished 8/10/19. Loved it. Learned so much. Hungry for more. I guess one of the biggest takeaways for me (which shouldn't surprise me as a data analyst) is that without looking at the data and without a basic understanding of statistics, people basically do not actually understand the game - regardless of their level of involvement. That's not really your point, but a conclusion drawn of the amalgamation of all the individual points. I feel like I've just stepped out of the low end of the Dunning Kruger effect regarding my basketball IQ. Thanks for all you do.

Do a podcast for best rebounders and defenders/other categories! Love the content

Ahh I love your uploads

I love this guy he actually makes analytics interesting and I learn something every video ! Keep up the good content!

best b-ball analyst on youtube. maybe a video on kemba walker? wondering how he can fit in w the celtics

Booker watched your video and now he's one of the best off ball players in the league

The fact that this video had 1.1k likes and 6 dislikes when I’m seeing it shows how great your content is

Would love an update on this now!

Id like to see a zach lavine breakdown and his situation with the bulls

I’d love to see the difference between when this was made and the 2019 - 2020 season. I think he was significantly better on defense this year, now that he doesn’t have primary ball handing responsibilities (thanks to Ricky Rubio).

Very nice channel! Could you do one of Ricky Rubio? Even here in Spain people say he is not worthy of being a nba starter. I'd like to watch your analysis on this matter. Thanks and keep doing what you do

"Soft like charmin" love the Kobe reference for a Kobe like player!

I need more people to learn about Rui Hachimura To me he's vastly underrated in the draft, Defense, and Offense. He has great foot work And his jumper is beautiful able to extend his range to the 3 with a greenlit midrange jumper, his post game is the best part about him reminding me of Lemarcus Aldridge. His defense is amazing with him rooted in fundamentals he's able to steal the ball and defend the paint like giannis which leads to easy fast breaks and finishes with ease He has problems with playmaking and tends to miss the open man cutting also he has the problem of finishing without energy around the rim He overall stands out to me no other player in the draft plays like him and he make defense exiting to watch I hope you consider making a vid on him

Can you explain what defensive impact metrics are?

At the time of this video, good analysis. Right now, looks a bit dated, but I'll wait the whole season before deciding. Also, you don't quite take into account the fact that he has improved every year. I can see him growing into a number 1 or 2 best player on a legitimate contender. Other than those couple things, great video!

This could use an update

Please do Kyle Lowry. He's very divisive with nba fans with his intangibles, advanced stats, wild playoff performances (2015 wizards vs 2019 bucks/warriors series), leadership, and more.

Wtf. This is great stuff mate!

Booker's weaknesses can be easily strengthened with the right coaching and more experience. His weaknesses can also be exacerbated with the wrong coaching and experience. This video was an excellent analysis.

A comparison between him and Lavine would be a banger because god do people love to argue that comparison.

He finally went back to the old music :)

Would love to see a video on Ayton.

FINALLY! A discussion on his Empty Stats. Thank you for this Video!

Devin Booker is super underrated. If his team wasn’t so garbage he’d be a all star hands down.

Honestly looking at the situation now, I would say the answer is a big YES.

This aged well😅

I went Lakers suns game he lit us up his jump shot silky smooth

Hmmm, great video as always Ben. Liked before watching. I had Booker around the 60th best player as of now, I would like to know where you have him currently.

Great analysis. The consensus among Suns fans seems to be that Ayton needs to become the best player on the team, with Booker playing second fiddle to him, if they want to get back to the playoffs.

Ben, are you going to do a revisit on Booker? Did he improve those areas that you said he struggled on, like off ball movement, efficiency and passing? Kevin O'Connor just did a vid on the Suns and Booker.

I got accepted into Mensa watching Ben Taylor's videos and listening to his podcast

Hey Thinking Basketball, who are your favorite Basketball RU-vidrs? Thinking Basketball and the NBA Storyteller make youtube great in such contrasting styles. Like any NBA fan, I'm looking for more greatness.

My friend, give us a video on the dynamic duos!!!

I think people forget that 1) He’s 22 so his room for growth is still astronomical. 2) He was a 6/7th man in college. Considering where he was drafted, dude is a stud. An absolute steal turning into a star

Sir Charles is right on about these analytics.

I'm glad I found this channel. One of the few actual great bball analysis channels out there. Great stuff.

update video?

It’s crazy how underrated he is

First love the vid

Sometimes when I play 2K I imagine you doing a video on my player & how I play the game with him lol

You got your answer

Thank god he’s back😁

Great video!! Would love to see a Khris Middleton analysis!

Yes.

You are awesome!!!

As a Suns fan I'll admit I've been depressed for nearly 2 decades. Any decent talent we get the organization wastes. 😢

Can u do a drose video I love your deep analysis on players

CJ McCollum is one of the craftiest and most underrated players. Please do an analysis on him

Can you do one on jimmy butler and if he is really a 1st option star player or not?

Great video. I'm glad I'm not crazy for saying he's not worth that contact. Now, is Andre Drummond a big pile of empty stats?

Booker showed a lot of improvement this year in the Bubble and I could see him being a Brandon Roy type of player on a good team, hopefully without all the injury history. Time will tell...

Bookers an elite scorer who can score from all levels and handle the ball when needed to. Having Rubio get Ayton involved more this year is going to help booker a ton because it’ll take the ball out of his hands in situations he’s not fully comfortable in yet. If he gets a good team around him and especially a guard who can distribute decently, he can be a great player on a great team

Great insight love watching these and see all the ups and downs of a basketball player besides just highlights. May you do one on Jamal Murray

Ben who do you think is better Book or Zach Lavine?

This is no longer hypothetical, Booker has succeeded on a winning team. Booker has improved a lot. At least I think so.

Dev is reminding me of Tracy mcgrady he’s a dangerous scorer but unfortunately the wins isn’t adding up

kinda like James Harden, since you spend so much energy on offense you stand there with your hands on your hips for defence

You should’ve looked to see his offensive fit on the ultra-talented Kentucky team he was on