Pride. It’s one of the seven deadly sins, but Phoenix Suns fans aren’t very familiar with it. When was the last time you felt it? In Game 2 of the 2021 NBA Finals? Yes, true to Proverbs 16:18, pride becomes the original sin. Envy is the deadly sin we usually experience.
Yet today, just one day after the U.S. men’s basketball team won a gold medal against France, we can’t help but feel a deep sense of pride. Two members of the team we cheer for played a critical role not only in that game, but in the team’s overall success. For a few fleeting moments in the summer of 2024, we experienced the thrill of victory as we watched players on our team overcome every obstacle to achieve triumph.
Some people didn’t like the gold medal, they said they should have won gold and asked why there was so much excitement. After all, Team USA did what they were supposed to do. To them I say, “You must be real jokers at parties.”
Sure, this is one of the most talented teams ever assembled. But you still have to do it. You still have to deliver. Are these the same people who can’t wait to shit on teams that don’t meet expectations? I’m not going to sit here and say they should have won and I shouldn’t feel pride and joy because of that. They did exactly what they were supposed to do and it was an absolute blast to watch. It was glorious and our Suns players were the key to that success.
It was a great summer in Paris. It was Devin Booker’s summer.
These Olympics were a symbolic – perhaps even literal – passing of the torch, as LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Steph Curry took the court at the most crucial moments on their journey to gold. We will likely look back on this moment as one of the greatest in basketball history, as we witnessed such massive legendary talents come together and perform on the world’s biggest stage.
And right there playing where they were was Devin Booker, passing the ball and grabbing rebounds to create extra possessions. His impact on this team cannot be overstated.
Steve Kerr understood how important Booker was and how important it was to have someone like him on the team. “Devin Booker is an incredible basketball player,” Kerr said after the U.S. team won gold. “Nobody asked for him. He was our secret MVP. I just wanted to say that.”
To achieve greatness, you have to make sacrifices, and Booker fully embraced them. There were no moments of hogging the ball, no endless dribbling that led to a forced shot. Instead, it was fluid, seamless basketball with the sole focus on winning.
“In four years,” Dwayne Wade said, “Devin Booker is a guy who can lead this team.”
His final stats? Booker shot 56.8% from the field, 56.5% from beyond the arc, 77.8% from the free throw line and averaged 11.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 0.5 steals in 22.0 minutes in Paris. He started all six games for Team USA and finished with a +78 rating.
It went beyond the stats, though. Booker won the Olympics. From hiding his sneakers in various places in Paris to attending other sporting events, Booker lived life to the fullest. He hung out with Snoop Dogg and Tony Hawk, had his picture taken with Suni Lee, shot videos by the Seine with his early 2000s camcorder, had LeBron wear a pair of His Book 1s, hung out with Nyjah Huston… Devin Booker lived life in France to the fullest.
And we were right there with Devin thanks to the insights he shared through his social media. While we were incredibly proud of his performance on the field, seeing him off the field was almost as good. He took us on the journey.
Speaking of cycling, after Book won the gold medal, he celebrated until six in the morning and instead of driving the van home, he rode his bike.
Devin Booker gained respect on the fringes of the NBA fan base, from those who believed he was just a “looter in a riot.” We know that respect will fizzle out like the last embers of a summer fire once the NBA season starts. But for now, Booker is OK in most people’s books.
Enjoy the pride. It’s a rare and precious feeling that we don’t experience often as a fan base. I assure you, it won’t drag you into Dante’s seven layers of hell. This summer, let’s immerse ourselves in the joy that our players accomplished something significant. Our players didn’t just win; they gave us a glimpse of greatness that is all too fleeting. Let’s cherish that moment and the feeling of accomplishment it brings, because victories like that are the moments we remember and cherish.
