It appreciates the depth, the complexity, the balance and recognizes what maturation can do to enhance a product. Why is it the French seem to have a better appreciation of Booker than we do?
Booker, 27, even spotted one himself Thursday while taking in the sights and delivered the international fans a pair of his Nike Book 1 shoes on the spot.
Kevin Durant has been a force on the court, but it may be Booker who is winning the popularity battle through his interactions over the past week in France. We should all embrace it. We are in an angry world right now. The divisiveness of our political climate is ending friendships and perpetuating misinformation. Debates that should be mere arm wrestles almost always evolve into Wrestlemania. We need to celebrate someone who works hard, has phenomenal talent, cares about the community and has navigated the tricky terrain of a professional athletic career with impressive maturity.
Remember, he was 18 when he stepped on the court for his first game. Since then, how often have you heard about missteps? Booker even navigated a celebrity relationship with poise! Whatever the team needs him to do. His willingness to adjust is not surprising. He saw firsthand the value of sacrifice as a freshman at Kentucky, of playing for something greater than yourself.
A guy who once scored 70 points in an NBA game never scored 20 at Kentucky. That kind of payoff sticks with you. His play in Paris has been the definition of selfless. Last season, he averaged 19 shot attempts per game. Through three games in the Olympics, Booker has taken a total of While many fans in Phoenix love Booker, many outside Arizona are slow to embrace him. Because he argues with refs?
