Rewinding Devin Booker’s run to Gold in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics

Olympic Book was a thing of beauty (for us, at least)

Phoenix Suns starting shooting guard Devin Booker, recently-signed center JaVale McGee and the United States men’s basketball team took home the gold medal in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics with their 87-82 victory over France on Friday night.

Booker, who started five of the Americans’ six games in the Olympics, finished with two points (both of which came from the free-throw line) on 0-of-4 shooting, an assist and a steal with four personal fouls on Friday. It followed a 20-point outing on 7-of-10 shooting (3-of-5 from 3-point range) in a 97-78 win for Team USA over Australia in the semifinal round on Wednesday, which was Booker’s highest scoring game of the tournament.

In total, Booker finished with 56 points on 19-of-45 (42.2 percent) shooting, including a 5-of-15 (33.3 percent) clip from the 3-point line and 13-of-14 makes from the free-throw line in the Olympics. Booker also had 19 rebounds, 11 assists, nine steals, two blocks and seven turnovers in the tournament.

“Book is an all around player who’s only getting better,” Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant said after the United States’ win over Spain earlier this week. “He’s a 24 year-old who handles himself like a 36 year-old vet. He didn’t shoot the ball well tonight but he’s one of those players who can affect the game in every single facet.”

The Americans were led on Friday night by Durant, who had 29 points on 9-of-18 shooting (3-of-9 from 3-point range, 8-of-9 from the free-throw line), six rebounds and three assists. He joined Los Angeles Lakers forward Carmelo Anthony as the only players with three gold medals in men’s Olympic basketball history.

McGee did not play in Friday’s gold medal game. He appeared in four games across the Tokyo Olympics, scoring 25 points on 10-of-13 shooting (5-of-6 from the free-throw line), and totaling five rebounds, two blocks, two steals and three personal fouls.

Here are some of Booker’s best plays from earlier in the tournament and notable moments, along with previous recaps from Bright Side of the Sun managing editor Dave King and myself.

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King: Booker, Team USA defeat Australia, 97-78, move on to Olympic gold medal game

King: Booker, McGee are Gold Medalists with Team USA behind Kevin Durant’s 29