Basketball - USA vs Spain - Men"s Gold Final | London 2012 Olympic Games
While back in Kentucky over the weekend for a youth basketball camp, Devin Booker sat down with local reporters to update his personal growth since departing Lexington for the NBA.
Among the many topics discussed was his recent participation on the USA Select Team, which scrimmaged last month against the senior national squad in Las Vegas. Although the Suns guard won"t play in the Olympics this time around, he hopes to use the experience as a springboard towards the 2020 games in Tokyo.
"It was great. It was my first USA event, so it was nice just getting involved in the culture in USA basketball," Booker said. "It"s like the high society of basketball, you know. Everybody who has worn those jerseys, all the legends walking around the gym, coaches and players, it"s hard to explain."
The weeklong training camp was both humbling and motivating for the 19-year-old. While Booker has become one of the faces of the Suns" franchise, he still has a ways to go before reaching the level of the current Olympians.
"We were kind of like defense dummies," Booker said, smiling. "We got a stop one time and tried to run out on offense, and they were like, "No, you"re back on defense." But (Cavaliers guard) Kyrie (Irving) said, "I was in that jersey one time also."
"So It"s just part of the process. I"m on the right road, and obviously the Olympics is something I want to do in the future. Hopefully I can make that jump."
One thing helping Booker"s cause is that it appears he is already on good terms with Team USA"s next head coach, Gregg Popovich.
I actually sat with him on the bus one day, and he talked to me a lot about my personality about my high character," Booker recalled. "He said, What makes you special is not anything you do on the court, its the maturity you have for a 19 year old.
At the time, I was just nodding my head, but inside, it was just a great feeling hearing that from him. Hes obviously one of the best guys to ever do this.
Source: http://www.nba.com/suns/blog/devin-booker-sets-sights-future-team-usa-bid/
