Olympic champion Devin Booker claims NBA championship toughest to win, not Olympic Gold

Devin Booker shares his perspective on the relative difficulty of becoming an NBA champion versus winning an Olympic gold medal.

Olympic champion Devin Booker claims NBA championship toughest to win, not Olympic Gold

Devin Booker (Image via NBA)

Devin Booker, an NBA player and Olympic gold medalist, believes that winning an NBA championship is harder than winning an Olympic gold medal. He attributes this to the fact that the NBA attracts the best talent from around the world, making the competition fiercer.

Booker’s assertion is rooted in the grueling nature of the NBA season and playoffs, which requires teams to navigate an 82-game regular season and multiple playoff series against top-tier competition. In contrast, the Olympic tournament is a shorter competition but still poses a significant challenge for players from countries other than the United States.

I feel like all the best talent in the world is in the NBA, and this is coming from an Olympic gold medalist (who believes) that being an NBA champion is probably harder to do.
Devin Booker to Noah Lyles’ comments

The United States men’s basketball team has dominated the Olympics, winning 16 of the 19 tournaments they have participated in. However, for players from other countries, winning an Olympic gold medal is a significant challenge due to the stronghold that Team USA has on the competition.

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Booker’s comments come after 100m champion Noah Lyles made a statement about NBA champions not being World champions. While winning an NBA championship requires sustained excellence against the world’s best talent, winning an Olympic gold requires overcoming the formidable legacy of Team USA.

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Devin Booker’s adaptability earns him a key role on Team USA

Devin Booker has been a standout performer for Team USA at the 2024 Olympics, starting both games and playing significant minutes. According to head coach Steve Kerr, Booker’s adaptability has been the key to his success, as he has transitioned seamlessly from being a primary scorer in the NBA to a more versatile role on the national team.

He's probably the guy who's been most adaptable to go from a different role in the NBA to a new one here. He's such a big scorer in the league… That's why he's started every game and seems to be good with any combination.
Steve Kerr said about Devin Booker:=

Booker has excelled in his new role, contributing across the board with 11.0 points, 1.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 1.5 steals per game, while shooting an impressive 66.7% from the field and 71.4% from three-point range.

With his ability to thrive in various roles, he is likely to continue playing big minutes and making significant contributions to the team’s efforts. His ability to fit in with any combination of players has earned him the trust of Kerr, who has given him the most minutes of any Team USA player (24.0 per game).

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