Has Booker surpassed AD as the best current UK player in the NBA?

[MWes11]

For years now, AD has been the best current UK alum in the association. With AD's injury struggles, and the success Booker has been having now in the playoffs (he has been unreal in reg. season, but never made playoffs), is he the best UK player in the NBA now?

We have other legit stars littered throughout the NBA, which makes the NBA worth watching.

Is Booker the best?

 

[bthaunert]

Yep. Our more recent guys have been elevating their game. Starting 5 for those younger guys (all 26 or younger):

Fox
Booker
Murray
Bam
Randle

 

[STL_Cat]

Randle was in the running for MVP this year so recency bias favors him.

But booker sure has been fun to watch in the playoffs. I was starting to worry he was going to be a guy who puts up huge numbers on a bad team his whole career.

 

[BlueLegends]

At this very moment, today, yes he is. He’s also become a model of efficiency in winning games just like last night. Only taking 12 shots to yield 21 points while dishing out 8 assists.

 

[BlueWorldOrder74]

Yes. AD is soft now; maybe always was a little. But he has really let up. Maybe trying to extend a career, or maybe just been around LBJ too long.

 

[anon_ce2llurbpkli4]

Jamal Murray is the best.

 

[Nubb16]

Randle makes a strong case as well.

 

[Col. Angus]

When both are healthy? No. Davis’ impact on the defensive end is light years ahead of Booker’s.

 

[BassProCat]

Tough call...Randle and Book then Murray knocking on the door.

 

[BassProCat]

When both are healthy? No. Davis’ impact on the defensive end is light years ahead of Booker’s.

Healthy AD will always be 1 in my book.

 

[Aike]

No. Unless AD stays injured for the foreseeable future.

 

[Mike-D]

When both are healthy? No. Davis’ impact on the defensive end is light years ahead of Booker’s.

No. Unless AD stays injured for the foreseeable future.

This.

 

[BlueLegends]

If Book should reach the promised land this year:

Winning title w/ CP3 > than winning title w/ Lebron

Just my opinion.

 

[YardCat]

Booker is the best of the healthy players

 

[Cats192]

Davis is and has been injured. We saw his impact when he's playing at his best in games 2 and 3. The Lakers won and appeared to be poised to run away with the series. Then AD got hurt and everything fell apart.

Part of the reason Booker was so dominant the last few games was Davis being out. The other Lakers bigs aren't good in pick and roll. They can't guard the 3. They can't slide their feet vs the drive. We watched Booker and Paul abuse Gasol and Drummond over and over. A healthy Davis would have bothered them a lot more.

The Lakers have a lot of problems. If AD was 100%, I think they win this series but lose later on in the playoffs.

 

[RondoBaller21]

When Murray is healthy, it’s him. I think he had 3 50 point games in the playoffs last year.

 

[JimboBBN]

If you're starting a team, you probably take Booker or even Murray at this point over Davis. If he could stay healthy, this isn't even a topic.

 

[J_Dee]

Booker (24 years old):
67/72 games, 33.9 MPG, 32.7 USG
19.2 PER
OBPM 1.4/DBPM -1.5.
WS 4.9, VORP 1.1

Davis (28 years old):
36/72 games. 32.3 MPG, 29.2 USG
22.1 PER
OBPM 2.9/DBPM 1.6
WS 3.7, VORP 1.9

AD is obviously better -- as Col. Angus notes, particularly on defense -- but Booker's consistency equals more wins, so I'm going with Booker at the moment.

 

[UK90]

Yes. Considering AD’s persistent injury issues, Booker is now our best NBAer.

Which is fascinating, because he never started a single game here. Has there ever been another NBA superstar that never started a game in college?

 

[wildcatsboston1984]

Randle makes a strong case as well.

Randle’s case ended emphatically with his playoff performance.

 

[Nubb16]

Randle’s case ended emphatically with his playoff performance.

Because AD sitting on the bench was much more impressive.

 

[K_TIME]

When Murray is healthy, it’s him. I think he had 3 50 point games in the playoffs last year.

Yeah...I'd vote Murray personally. He was impressive in playoffs last year and was heartbreaking to see him get the knee injury right as he had Nuggets on horizon of making a long play off run.

 

[UK till Death]

For years now, AD has been the best current UK alum in the association. With AD's injury struggles, and the success Booker has been having now in the playoffs (he has been unreal in reg. season, but never made playoffs), is he the best UK player in the NBA now?

We have other legit stars littered throughout the NBA, which makes the NBA worth watching.

Is Booker the best?

AD has inherited all of LeChina's worst habits. It's sad to see.

 

[UK till Death]

Davis is and has been injured. We saw his impact when he's playing at his best in games 2 and 3. The Lakers won and appeared to be poised to run away with the series. Then AD got hurt and everything fell apart.

Part of the reason Booker was so dominant the last few games was Davis being out. The other Lakers bigs aren't good in pick and roll. They can't guard the 3. They can't slide their feet vs the drive. We watched Booker and Paul abuse Gasol and Drummond over and over. A healthy Davis would have bothered them a lot more.

The Lakers have a lot of problems. If AD was 100%, I think they win this series but lose later on in the playoffs.

LeChina looking long in the tooth. I only saw him do like 3 "LeBron" things the entire elimination game.

 

[kentuckykowboy8]

Davis is def the best when healthy.

I guess the better question would be, if you had to pick a player for your team, who would you want?

I’d prob take Randle right now.

 

[420grover]

Davis is def the best when healthy.

I guess the better question would be, if you had to pick a player for your team, who would you want?

I’d prob take Randle right now.

Every game that Randle has ever played in that really meant something, he's been terrible. He's gotta learn how to use his right hand.

 

[StubbornPenny]

Yes. Considering AD’s persistent injury issues, Booker is now our best NBAer.

Which is fascinating, because he never started a single game here. Has there ever been another NBA superstar that never started a game in college?

its a hard one to google but here’s a few
-Marvin Williams never started and was drafted high. Not a superstar though.

-Zach LaVine only started once in college and he’s on the cusp of super stardom, may be considered one if his teams won more.

-Russell Westbrook only started one game his freshman year because of an injury. He then started during us sophomore year but in today’s environment he would have been gone.

 

[kb22stang]

Healthy AD will always be 1 in my book.

The problem is that he can't stay healthy for entire seasons. The dude is simply soft. If I'm a GM I'd rather have Murray, Booker, or even Fox over Davis simply because he's not available.

 

[kb22stang]

AD has inherited all of LeChina's worst habits. It's sad to see.

He's always been soft, always had injury issues.

 

[Sparky285]

I think Randle had the best year of any Cat for this one season.

 

[bigbuf]

Why has Towns been left out of these talks?

 

[Sparky285]

Yes. Considering AD’s persistent injury issues, Booker is now our best NBAer.

Which is fascinating, because he never started a single game here. Has there ever been another NBA superstar that never started a game in college?

Pretty sure LeBron never started a game in college.

 

[RunninRichie]

Booker reminds me of Kobe. Don’t just take my word for it, take Kobe’s

 

[king of cali]

Talk about being caught up in the moment. How quickly we forget that it was only 8 months ago that Davis averaged 27 and 10 on 57% shooting, while also being dominant on the defensive end en route to winning the title. Nothing has changed other than Davis was injured this season. A lot.

Give Booker tons of credit for being a top 5 player in the playoffs thus far, but there is still a huge gulf that exists between Davis and the rest of the UK players.

 

[UK90]

Ed

Pretty sure LeBron never started a game in college.

Obviously I was talking about those who played in college. I wouldn’t have thought that needed to be stated.

 

[BlueLegends]

Booker reminds me of Kobe. Don’t just take my word for it, take Kobe’s

View embedded media

There’s some similarities for sure. But Kobe’s lift off 2-feet going downhill and attacking the rim was unique and unequivocally elite to compare to only MJ. Kobe had that body control to shift multiple times in mid-air.

 

[CatStucknWA]

'best' is such a subjective term. I can tell you that Book is loved here in PHX. Doesn't get in trouble, gives back to the community, great player, etc...
I think (from my limited perspective) he's one of the 'best' ambassadors for UK basketball

 

[Princecal]

Every game that Randle has ever played in that really meant something, he's been terrible. He's gotta learn how to use his right hand.

He was not terrible at all in the Tournament while here. He got injured in the end or we hang a banner

 

[Princecal]

Talk about being caught up in the moment. How quickly we forget that it was only 8 months ago that Davis averaged 27 and 10 on 57% shooting, while also being dominant on the defensive end en route to winning the title. Nothing has changed other than Davis was injured this season. A lot.

Give Booker tons of credit for being a top 5 player in the playoffs thus far, but there is still a huge gulf that exists between Davis and the rest of the UK players.

Just as of a the end of the regular season Davis was playing better. Trying to play through injuries made those injuries way worse and he still showed in game 2 and 3 that he affects the game drastically while not 100 percent. In a couple weeks people immediately forget

 

[Fox2monk]

LeChina looking long in the tooth. I only saw him do like 3 "LeBron" things the entire elimination game.

Yeah he can’t fight Father Time forever, he’s made it way longer than I figured he would at the top level. His decline is showing and will continue.