Landon Buford
It has been 8 seasons since Portland Trailblazers legend, Brandon Roy last stepped foot on the court as a professional athlete. Roy had to retire for good just five games into the 2012 season due to a degenerative knee condition.
Last season, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban revealed that they attempted to sign Roy. After his stint with the Timberwolves in 2013, but his knee condition would let him continue.
“I know after he went to Minnesota for a little bit, and after that, we tried to get him. We said, let’s see if our doctors could do a better job than your doctors, and he just wasn’t ready for it.”
When healthy, the former three-time All-Star had no weakness, said Jamal Crawford.
“Just his all-around play. He was so unassuming with his game you, didn’t he had this or that and really he had no weaknesses. I remember going over a scouting report when he was a rookie and my Knicks teammates were like what do mean no weaknesses? I was like nah he has no weaknesses he can dribble, shoot, pass, defend, post, and he does everything. He makes the right play all the time and I think he plays with his mind first when he was out there. That is why he was such a joy. Only true basketball purest appreciates how good he was.”
So, who in today’s game resembles the player that the late-great Kobe Bryant once dubbed the toughest player to guard in the Western Conference.
According to EA Sports Creative Director, Scott O’Gallagher it’s Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns.
“It’s Devin Booker,” said O’Gallagher on Instagram Live on Tuesday night with Ryan Hollins. “The play style is very Devin Booker ish, and watch both get to their spots. The on that you can say nah, that’s not them is B Roy’s shoot was different, whether D Book’s off the charts.”
Hollins think they are two different guys.
“B Roy was a legit point guard and can handle the basketball,” said Hollins. “You give Brandon Roy the ball and get the heck out of the way. D Book move like a three and is not natural. When gets the ball in his hands, he wants to dribble and pull up on you.”
Booker has also drawn comparison to Kobe Bryant as well. Both players once they get in the zone can drop to 50-81 points on any given night, and their mentality is rare.
Last season, Booker averaged 26.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 6.5 per game.
