The Suns and Mavericks close out “Christmas Day” in the NBA, starting at 4:30 a.m. next night. The opportunity for Luka Doncic And Devin Booker to write a new page in the book of their “rivalry”.
It all started during Game 7 of the Western Conference semi-finals, in May 2022, when Luka Doncic responded to Devin Booker's “trashtalking” with a clear victory for the Mavericks in Arizona (123-90). A heavy setback and an elimination which had cut off the momentum of the Suns, reigning finalists who imagined themselves champions.
Last March, the two men got heated again, Luka Doncic having little appreciated the “trashtalking” of the Suns back in the last moments of a Phoenix success. In a difficult period for the Mavs.
“It was a competitive match, everything is good. Just, next time, don't wait until there are three seconds left to speak.”explained the Slovenian about this tense one-on-one with the Suns star.
“The respect Luka and I have for each other has been mutual and very high since he entered the league”
For Devin Booker, however, there was nothing serious, just two competitors rubbing together a little.
“It’s just two competitors going against each other. Like I said, everyone talks about how the NBA has become a league of friends now. I have no problems with Luka on or off the pitch, but when we compete, we play to win.”he emphasized. “You journalists like to say that you don’t want everyone to be friends. Well, there was a little smoke.”
Same constant today for the teammate of Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, when meeting Luka Doncic for “Christmay Day”. For him, there is no rivalry or mutual hatred with the Slovenian.
“It just proves what social media is and how people try to cause drama and create anything. The respect Luka and I have for each other has been mutual and very high since he entered the league” explained Devin Booker. “A playoff series becomes super competitive and the world takes it and creates lots of stuff with it. It's good for the game, it's good for the interest, it's good for the views. But there is no problem between us, we just compete at a high level. »
