Devin Booker is on Pace for All-Time Greatness

Devin Booker is on the verge of joining an elite company of NBA legends.

What separates Booker not just from others around his age but roughly 95% of the league, is his ability to score at will. He puts up buckets – plain and simple.

Currently, Devin Booker is averaging 21.4 points per game which slots him 28th in the league. Furthermore, he the only player averaging more than 16 points per game that still cannot legally buy alcohol. The next closest is Myles Turner at 15.6 and then after that is Emmanuel Mudiay at 11.5.

There is a considerable skill gap between Booker and his peers.

Youngest to Score 4,000 career points

Age    Player
20y, 318d    LeBron James
21y, 66d Kevin Durant
21y, 214d    Carmelo Anthony
21y, 216d    Kobe Bryant
21y, 315d    Tracy McGrady
21y, 334d    Andrew Wiggins
21y, 348d    Dwight Howard

This article comes in the wake of Andrew Wiggins passing Kobe Bryant in becoming 4th all-time in points scored before the age of 22. Wiggins has amassed 4,384 points so far, 144 more points than Kobe, and 174 more points than Tracy McGrady. This is a tremendous feat by Wiggins but it should spur a thought in all Suns fans: “How close is Booker?”

The simple answer: he is on pace.

As of today, prior to the Milwaukee Bucks game, Booker has scored 2,259 points in his first two seasons. If he finishes out the remaining 24 games averaging a modest 20 points he will have a total of 2,739 points. Since his birthday is in October, Booker will be able to add all of next season to his point total. Hypothetically, if he is able to score at least 20 points each game next season he will reach 4,000 points around March 9th at the age of 21 and 129 days. Putting him at 3rd youngest all-time to score 4,000 points. Only LeBron James and Kevin Durant will have scored more points before 22.

And let’s not forget: He wasn’t even counted upon to become a scoring leader on the team until after the All-Star break his rookie season.

Most Points Scored Prior to 22nd Birthday

Pts Player
7,067    LeBron James
5,967    Kevin Durant
5,405    Carmelo Anthony
4,384    Andrew Wiggins
4,240    Kobe Byrant
4,210    Tracy McGrady
3,773    Chris Bosh
3,662    Kevin Garnett
3,623    Kyrie Irving

Passing Wiggins on The Most Points Scored Prior to 22nd Birthday list may be a tougher challenge. If the hypothetical constant of 20 points per game for Booker were to hold up, he would accumulate 4,379. He would need to average about 25 points per game to overtake LeBron.

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However, that would place him 5th all-time which is absolutely nothing to scoff at. At the rate in which Booker is developing it is not unimaginable Booker can easily average beyond 20 points per contest next season.

Fun Fact: Booker broke LeBron James’ record for consecutive 20+ point games before the age of 21.

Booker’s rise to stardom is developing right before our eyes. All we have to do as fans is sit back and enjoy the ride.

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