Phoenix Suns' Devin Booker slammed by radio host for being 'all about the stats'

by 24USATVAug. 14, 2020, 5:40 a.m. 65
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Devin Booker has shined during his time in the NBA bubble, almost earning universal acclaim for his spectacular play in leading the Phoenix Suns to an impressive 8-0 record.

One sports radio host evidently isn't all that impressed with Booker's performance in Orlando, calling the Suns guard "not a winning player" who "is all about the stats."

The host, Fox Sports Radio's Ben Maller, recently went on a rant blasting the Suns star on his late-night show.

His rant began while discussing Draymond Green's recent "tampering" comments about Booker:

“Is Draymond Green correct?" Maller said. "Does Devin Booker have to get out of a Suns uniform? Must he leave Phoenix to have a legitimate big-time career? I actually say no to that. I'm actually going to push back against Draymond Green … First of all, if Devin Booker is God’s gift to basketball, which some seem to think he is, he's hit some game-winning shots in his career, then I’m of the belief that Phoenix would not be in the current pickle that they are in with that losing mentality…

"The thing also about a guy like Devin Booker, we have seen the truly great players who elevate, elevate the play of everyone around them and lead franchises out of the doldrums," Maller continued. "Devin Booker is not that kind of player, he has not been that kind of player. He’s an offensive dynamo but he’s not a winning NBA player. This is a guy that is all about the stats. He’s great if you play fantasy basketball. There are so many hollow statistics next to the name ‘Devin Booker.'

"We'll call a spade a spade, we believe in that on our show. It's not about wins and losses, in his case it is about personal statistical domination and that is what matters most,'' he added. "And in that regard why would Devin Booker want to go to another team and sacrifice as many shots as he possibly wants? As long as he gets his 25, 26 points per game, and gets around 20 field goal attempts a game in a 48-minute game where he's playing about 38-40 minutes, he’s a happy camper. I have seen no evidence that Devin Booker is depressed because the Suns blow year after year … "

MORE:Updated: How can Phoenix Suns make NBA playoffs? Need less help

Maller shared this example to try to prove his point:

"In basketball in 2017 in the Garden, the Suns were being taken apart systematically, surgically assaulted by the Boston Celtics," he said. "In fact, at halftime of that game Boston was up by 23 points over Phoenix. However, that game was remembered as the Devin Booker 70 game. Devin Booker put up 70 points in that game. The game was over at halftime. Want to take a guess how many points Devin Booker scored in the second half in garbage time? How about 51? He ended up with 70, but he had 51 when the game was over. The Celtics defensively were like, let him score, we don't care, the game is in garbage time. And then the Suns had this big celebration with Devin Booker after the game, the losing franchise that they are celebrating the loss and Booker was right in the middle of it because he had had statistical domination. And that is what mattered most."

Maller isn't likely to win many followers in Phoenix over his rant.

Booker has shown that he can elevate his teammates during his time in the Orlando Bubble (8-0, anyone?) and he has proven he is not all about the stats, showing that he is willing to do whatever it takes to help his team win.

It is also interesting that Maller brought up one game to try to prove his point about Booker and his statistics.

One game in 2017 when Booker and the Suns (and a completely different roster and coaching staff) desperately needed something to feel good about in the midst of a very trying season.

Booker is just 23 years old and has played five seasons in the league. He's continuing to grow as a teammate and a player and he's showing his potential as a player and as a leader in Orlando.

Just look at the current chemistry of the Suns, and Booker's leadership as proof. He's helping to turn around the mentality and the culture issues that have plagued the franchise in recent years.

Several sites have written glowing stories on Booker and the Suns' performance in Orlando, including this from The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor: "Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns are here to stay."

This isn't the first time that Maller has blasted an Arizona sports star.

After Kyler Murray's debut last season, Maller called his performance "one of the worst debuts I can recall in recent NFL history."

Murray led Arizona back from an 18-point deficit to tie the Detroit Lions in that game, 27-27.

"All the media is doing is pumping up the legend of Kyler Murray," Maller said. "Alligator arms Murray had one of the worst debuts I can recall in recent NFL history. The Cardinals tied a bad Lions team who tried to give the game away. I’m trying to wack away all these Murray fan boys with a stick. They were trailing because of his football negligence. He had 31 bad plays: Interceptions plus incompletions plus sacks plus fumbles in 30 minutes of possessions. We have a new nickname for Kyler — 'Mistake-a-Minute Murray.' We’re supposed to kiss his a--? The Murray fanboys and lemmings are so pathetic. It was underwhelming and embarrassing."

Maller was wrong then, too.

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