With the 2015 NBA Draft just one day away, ValleyOfTheSuns.com’s Gavin Schall and Scott Chasen are in New York to cover all of the events going on. The following post contains a recap of the media availability sessions with all the prospects the Phoenix Suns might be interested in with the 13th pick. Some of the answers are edited down for brevity.
ALSO ON VALLEY OF THE SUNS: 2015 NBA Draft Media Day Roundup: Part 1
Devin Booker
Devin Booker is the guy most often projected to go to the Suns in the 30 or so semi-credible mock drafts that exist on the internet. Booker, a 6’5″ smooth shooting two guard out of Kentucky, could provide some much needed floor spacing for the Suns. The freshman is confident that he’s up for the task.
On how playing with other stars and getting fewer touches helped him
"“You have to take advantage of your time in there. People always ask me, ‘You’re a shooter, how do you always go in there five minutes and sit out five minutes?’ and I tell them you just learn to be efficient and if you don’t do it you’ll be out.”"
On how he developed his shot
"“I was never always a good shooter, when I was younger I was the big man, I was bigger than everybody. “Just watching people, just paying attention to fundamentals and you still see it in my shot today how fundamentally sound it is. If I’m missing I know I have to get back to my fundamentals.”"
On comparions to Klay Thompson
"“I like when I hear it, it’s a great comparison, but you can’t compare me yet to someone of that caliber. I watch a lot of film of his, he’s a shooter first, but he can do a lot of other things and that’s what makes him Klay Thompson.”"
On improving his defense
"“I would say just coming in with a defensive mindset. When you’re young you come in with the mindset, I have to score the ball, I have to score the ball, but in college you realize quickly that you’re not going to be in the game if you can just score the ball.”"
Booker also discussed how growing up in Michigan he idolized the Detroit Pistons and paid particular attention to Rip Hamilton and how he ran off screens. Booker seems to have a really good head on his shoulders and really put a lot of thought into each one of his answers.
Next: Sam Dekker