Devin Booker has never shied away from expectations. He was a five-star recruit in high school, was a part of one of the most talented teams in college basketball history, and became a face of a franchise before he could legally drink. He’s even dating a Kardashian. Booker has never been phased by the spotlight. That’s why his recent comments about Kobe Bryant comparisons came as a bit of a surprise
It’s no secret that Booker has and still does look up to the late Kobe Bryant. He worked with Bryant early in his career and viewed him as a mentor. It wasn’t long before people started to draw comparisons between the two. Some were broad, like them sharing the same height, playing the same position, or both being drafted 13th overall. However, as time went on and Booker began to establish himself as a force to be reckoned with, the similarities became more striking. Media members found it easier and easier to have Booker tied to Bryant comparisons.
Natural comparisons
It was no longer just coincidences or chance events that drew the two together. When Booker scored 70 points against the Celtics in 2017, it was the highest-scoring since Bryant’s iconic 81 point performance against the Raptors in 2006. In early 2020, Booker broke Bryant’s record as the youngest guard in league history to score 7,000 points.
As Booker began to solidify himself as one of the best shooting guards in the game, it felt natural to compare him to the best shooting guard of the previous generation. It wasn’t just statistically where Booker and a young Bryant’s careers aligned, but even aesthetically. Bryant had a certain level of smoothness and swagger to his game that was hard to explain. The game just looked so natural and effortless to him. There were times in the 2021 playoffs when Booker reminded fans of Bryant with his flow and composure.
It was then that the comparisons gained National traction. As Booker led the Phoenix Suns to the NBA finals, more and more fans started to draw the comparison. Even though the Suns fell to the Bucks in six games, Booker became a household name, and the expectations from there only grew.
One of the best
This leads us to the present day. Booker will play in his third consecutive all-star game later this month, and the Suns have the best record in basketball. However, Booker no longer wants comparisons to his idol. This comes after the backlash Booker asked the officials to move the Toronto Raptors mascot while shooting his free throws.
This act might seem insignificant, but fans across the league took it to heart. Along with Bryant’s undeniable skill and talent, his mindset, known as “Mamba Mentality,” was a staple of his game and success.
Fans pointed to Booker complaining about a mascot as proof he was unworthy of the comparisons to Bryant. After beating the Indiana Pacers on January 14th, Booker said to the media, “The only problem I have is people still comparing me to Kobe Bryant. I told them in the Playoffs, stop bringing up Mamba Mentality. I’m inspired by Kobe Bryant and Mamba Mentality, but I am not Kobe Bryant.”
Should he be compared to the Laker great?
Booker’s recent comments highlight the struggles athletes face of living up to labels fans have given them. Comparisons to legends can be flattering, but they can also be a burden. It puts them under a microscope, with the whole world watching their every step waiting for them to slip.
Being one of the greatest players of all time, Bryant is also one of the most beloved and respected. That has caused his fans to become very protective of his legacy. They don’t believe anyone in today’s game should be compared to Bryant, and he should stand alone as one of one.
But it feels like some fans are missing the point. Bryant comparisons are just meant to compare and nothing more. Comparing and equating are two different things. No one is saying Bryant and Booker are equals; rather, they are suggesting there is overlap in the two’s games. Along with inspiring countless fans, Bryant also inspired the next generation of athletes. It makes sense that players would try to emulate his game.
The power of Kobe
Some might take comparisons to less accomplished players as disrespectful, but fans should learn to embrace them. Bryant is no longer with us, and the only way his game can live on is through this next generation. Bryant’s influence on the game is widespread. Kids in the 90s wanted to be like Mike, but kids in the 2000s wanted to be like Kobe.
Bryant’s fingerprints are all over today’s game. His signature traits can be seen in current stars, such as DeMar DeRozan’s fadeaway, Jimmy Butler’s grit, and, yes, Devin Booker’s scoring. No player has the complete package that Bryant did, but that doesn’t matter. We should choose to appreciate the ways that current players remind us of past greats instead of fixating on the ways they don’t.
Bryant’s lasting impact on the game is as apparent as ever, and Booker was not the first, nor will he be the last to earn the comparison to Bryant. But he still isn’t and will never be Bryant, and that’s ok.
