Phoenix Suns’ Devin Booker is the modern-day Kobe Bryant
By Omar Cordero
Book. DB. The Walking Bucket. Devin Booker is a man of many names. One appellative that Phoenix Suns’ fans should start utilizing? The Cactus Mamba.
The five-year guard out of Kentucky has been nothing short of amazing for the Phoenix Suns this season. Many believe (present party included) Devin Booker is well on his way to his first All-Star bid – as he continues to put on a clinic against several teams in the NBA. He is shooting an impressive 50.8/35.5/91.5% split this season, averaging 26.5 PPG along with 4.1 and 6.4, rebounds and assists per game.
But we’ve seen a player of this caliber before, haven’t we? We’ve all witnessed someone with the same passion and drive, the same mentality. A mentality that can only be personified by comparing it to that of an aggressive and ferocious animal. He slips through defenders and screens, similar to how reptiles evade its predators and pounce on their prey. A fierce and predatory reptile, like a mamba.
Yes, that’s it!
The mentality of a mamba. A Black Mamba. A Mamba-like Mentality.
THE Mamba Mentality.
The Mamba Mentality was best defined on Silver Screen and Roll as:
"“…a constant quest to find answers. It’s that infinite curiosity to want to be better, to figure things out. Mamba mentality is you’re going, you’re competing, you’re not worried about what people may say. You’re not worried about disappointing others. You’re not worried about any of that, you’re just focused on being in the moment…”"
There is one preeminent and distinguished embodiment of the aforementioned mind state. That of its creator, the Mamba himself, Kobe Bryant. The Lakers legend was an architect, crafting the game to his will and leaving behind a legacy in Los Angeles that some would say is insurmountable for generations to come.
Sorry, LeBron, but you’re going to need to do more than just demand trades, make players leave, and get coaches fired to become one of the greatest in a Lakers uniform.
But what makes the Cactus Mamba a modern-day version of Kobe Wan Kenobi?