PHOENIX — Although Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker is one of the NBA’s best scorers, his performance in other areas of the game often goes unappreciated. However, the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris have helped turn the tide.

Booker – on a team full of historic standouts like LeBron James, Steph Curry and Kevin Durant – stepped into his usual role as primary scorer and did the dirty work for the U.S. team during its gold medal run, including plenty of off-ball work.

USA head coach Steve Kerr singled out Booker after the victory over France in the last game:

“He was unbelievable all season long. Just what he does, play after play. Rock solid. Completely changed his role from the NBA to now. He was kind of our unsung MVP. I just wanted to say that.”

– Steve Kerr on Devin Booker

Kerr wasn’t the only prominent name in the basketball world to praise Booker for his adaptation of his role, as NBA legend Carmelo Anthony did just that in a recent episode of his 7pm in Brooklyn Podcasts:

“The only person on the team who had to change his role was Devin Booker. ‘I accepted the role of pick-and-pop guy,’ Anthony said.

“Devin Booker has that role. He played that role in college. He came off the bench. He’s used to earning his minutes, working his way up and working hard. People forget that. He was more adaptable to that role. He was the unsung hero on that team. That’s hard to do.”

Booker started every game during the USA’s perfect run to first place in Paris.

It’s nice to see Booker getting the recognition he deserves after winning his second gold medal.