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Former Kentucky Wildcat and current Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker continues to put the National Basketball Association on notice. After being snubbed from this year’s All-NBA teams, Booker has taken that personally throughout the postseason and took his game a step further on Sunday in the absence of his running mate and future Hall of Fame point guard Chris Paul.
Sunday afternoon Booker’s Suns played host to the Los Angeles Clippers for the first of seven games in the Western Conference Finals. Playing all but four minutes, Booker recorded his first ever career triple double of 40 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists while shooting better than 50% from the floor and only committing two turnovers.
After recording a 40-point triple-double in the win, Devin Booker discusses how having mentors like Kobe Bryant and Chris Paul prepared him for this moment. #ThatsGame
— NBA (@NBA) June 20, 2021
Game 2: Tuesday at 9pm/et on TNT pic.twitter.com/HZF12eDoVZ
Though the Clippers were without All-NBA super star Kawhi Leonard, LA is still an incredibly deep team and won back to back games against the no. 1 seed Utah Jazz this past week to reach the Western Conference Finals. The efforts by Booker and the rest of his young teammates were truly incredible and will have to remain consistent if Phoenix wishes to continue to defend home court. Game 2 is set for Tuesday night at 9PM EDT.
Devin Booker first career triple-double.
— StatMuse (@statmuse) June 20, 2021
40 PTS
13 REB
11 AST
He is the 2nd Suns player ever with a 40-point triple-double in the playoffs (Charles Barkley). pic.twitter.com/SfLKL1jLjd
Booker joined pretty good company following his performance on Sunday.
Tweet of the Day
Doc Rivers, on whether Ben Simmons can play point guard on a championship team. "I don't know the answer to that right now."
— Derek Bodner (@DerekBodnerNBA) June 21, 2021
The answer could not be anymore obvious, Doc.
Quickies
2022 five-star center Dereck Lively II earns offer from Kentucky - Kentucky Sports Radio
A “lifetime scholarship” that is.
Booker records first career triple-double as Phoenix Suns take Game 1 - ESPN
And to do it without future Hall of Famer Chris Paul...
Sheppard hears from UK, looking for college that “feels like home” - Kentucky Sports Radio
It would really suck for Sheppard to wear anything other than Kentucky blue...
Jon Rahm closes with two birdies to win U.S. Open for first major - ESPN
What a moment for Rahm and his family.
Mackenzie Hughes got a ball stuck in a tree during U.S. Open - USA Today
Raise your hand if this has happened to you... (raises hand)
Trae Young leads Atlanta Hawks to second Eastern Conference finals in 50 years - ESPN
These Hawks grew up... fast.
Simone Manuel qualifies for 50 free, headed to Tokyo Olympics - USA Today
She capitalized on her last shot at the games... what a story.
DeChambeau shoots 8-over 44 on back nine, ties for 26th at U.S. Open - ESPN
A 44 on a Sunday at a major... yikes.