In an impressive display of resilience, Devin Booker, the guard for the Phoenix Suns, not only participated in the game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden despite questions surrounding his ankle injury but also achieved a significant milestone by surpassing Steve Nash on the NBA's all-time scoring list.
Booker’s status for the matchup was uncertain right up to the final injury report, but his determination to play in such an iconic venue proved unwavering. Throughout his nine previous games at Madison Square Garden, Booker has averaged over 31 points, showcasing a remarkable affinity for the electric atmosphere that the arena offers.
Postgame, he shared his thoughts with reporters, emphasizing the importance of respecting the history of the game: "I always say when I see young players that come in here that really don’t care about it, you’re not a true hooper. To have all the (Knicks) alumni here tonight on top of that, a bunch of living legends in the building. You have to feel it, man. That’s what it’s all about. A lot of those guys laid the groundwork for us to get the league where it’s at now. You got to show love. You got to respect the history that’s come through."
Leading up to the game, Booker's ankle had been a concern since he sustained the injury during a match against the Miami Heat. He missed only one game due to this issue and assured fans he would be ready for the next challenge against the Brooklyn Nets. On Saturday evening, he played through the pain and topped the Suns' scoring chart with 27 points, shooting 7 for 18 from the field and an impressive 12 for 14 from the free-throw line.
His coach, Jordan Ott, noted Booker’s dedication, stating, "He played both the entire first and third quarters. Loves playing here. He was obviously not healthy – didn’t do a ton of shootaround today. Did nothing yesterday. He put himself out there. Running out of words on what to say about what he does for us on a nightly basis. Even when his shot doesn’t feel great because of the ankle, he’s able to get to the free-throw line, which really calmed us down, which really helped us. Appreciate his effort."
Booker mentioned that he only felt discomfort when needing to push off his injured ankle. Teammate Grayson Allen praised Booker’s toughness, saying, "I’ve seen him play through a lot of stuff. When he wants to be out there, and if he can run up and down that court, he’ll be out there."
Although it wasn't his most efficient shooting performance, Booker skillfully generated points at the charity stripe. His achievement of entering the top 100 on the NBA's all-time scoring list was marked by passing the franchise legend Steve Nash. He entered the game just one point shy of Nash and made his mark early with a driving layup.
Booker quickly pushed towards the next target on the scoring list, Nikola Vucevic, tying him with two free throws late in the first half and then surpassing him to claim the 99th spot overall with another free throw shortly thereafter. Ending the half with 11 points, he added another 16 in the second half, solidifying his reputation. After the game, teammate Collin Gillespie simply called him a "Dawg" for his performance. "Dawg. Hooper, man. We appreciate it. We need him out there. He gives us a different look when he’s out there," Gillespie remarked.
With his performance at MSG, Booker extended his impressive average to 30.8 points per game in this legendary arena. While now sitting in the top 100 of the all-time scorers, he faces competition from four other active players nearby on the list. Currently, he is just 323 points behind Brook Lopez and holds a 16-point lead over Vucevic, along with being 107 points ahead of Bradley Beal and 255 points in front of Nikola Jokic.
This season, Booker has consistently proven himself as a key scorer for the Suns, marking this game as his 19th outing with at least 25 points, while maintaining an average of 25.3 points per game. As the Suns gear up to face the Brooklyn Nets next, along with upcoming challenges against the Philadelphia 76ers and Atlanta Hawks, fans are eager to see how Booker continues to perform on this six-game road trip.
