Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns suffered a heartbreaking loss to the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA Finals this year. Booker showed up big time in his first playoff appearance, becoming a key member of a Suns team that reached the NBA Finals this year. Booker showed that he is a superstar in the league. But he and Chris Paul couldn’t get past the trio of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, and Jrue Holiday.
And as the NBA Finals were done, Booker made his way to Tokyo to join Team USA. Booker was joined by his NBA Finals foes Middleton and Holiday. Fans immediately pointed out how awkward or uncomfortable it would have been for Booker to travel with the people who kept him from achieving his dream. But Booker has put an end to those rumblings.
During a Team USA press briefing at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Devin Booker was asked about how he felt traveling and playing with Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday after their intense battles during the NBA Finals. Booker noted that while he is disappointed about the loss, he has no hard feelings toward the duo. The loss was on his team’s shoulders and he doesn’t blame anyone outside of himself and the team. Booker is looking to the future, accepting the loss and trying to achieve success with Team USA. So he has no problem with Middleton and Holiday.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNQzwnvgPn8
“The memories are there, but it’s nothing personal between us. We lost and that’s it, and I’m man enough to accept that and move on. There’s no hate towards Jrue or K Mid.”
Booker, Holiday, and Middleton are not the only players who had to become teammates after an intense Finals battle. Over the last few Olympics, we have seen this occur. In 2016, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green were teaming with Kyrie Irving after an intense seven-game series. In 2012, LeBron James was playing alongside Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden after the NBA Finals between Miami and OKC. From the nature of Booker’s comments, one can expect there to be no friction among the three finalists.
