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Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker provided a unique look at Team USA’s run to a gold medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
Last September, Booker responded, “I’ll do it,” when Washington Wizards star Kyle Kuzma said the U.S. “better get some nba stars that know how to play a role” for the Olympics. That was also the caption that accompanied his 14-minute video shared on Instagram (warning: video contains profanity).
The reel includes footage from Team USA’s games along with more candid clips from inside the locker room, at practices and around the Olympic village.
At one point, Booker can be heard in the tunnel after the United States’ 98-87 win over France in the final telling some members of the Serbian national team he thought the Americans were headed for a defeat in the semifinals. The U.S. edged past Serbia 95-91 in its penultimate game.
Calling Booker a breakout star of the Olympics would be a stretch when he’s already a household name for many NBA fans. But the 27-year-old garnered a lot of praise for his efforts in Paris, with head coach Steve Kerr calling him “kind of our unsung MVP.” He averaged 11.7 points and shot 56.5 percent from beyond the arc. His defense and willingness to play off the ball helped bring balance to such a talent-laden squad.
