Devin Booker and Luka Doncic are currently in the midst of one of the best beefs in the NBA.
Generally speaking, top-tier stars in the league refrain from aggressively engaging each other. It’s usually an enforcer-type role player who mixes it up with the other squad’s best player.
But Booker and Doncic have decided to do their own dirty work, as evidenced by this altercation from last weekend:
After the game, both Doncic and Booker were asked about what transpired.
“It’s a competitive game. It’s all good. Next time, just don’t wait until there’s three seconds left to talk,” Doncic said after the fact.
Booker had an even more straightforward reaction to the clash.
“You guys say you don’t want everybody to be friendly-friendly. There you go. We got some smoke… I have no problem with Luka on or off the court, but when we’re competing, we’re competing.”
Devin Booker on his exchange with Luka Doncic
(via @DuaneRankin) pic.twitter.com/WG4Bwapb54
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) March 5, 2023
“You guys say you don’t want everybody to be friendly-friendly,” he told the media.
“There you go. We got some smoke… I have no problem with Luka on or off the court, but when we’re competing, we’re competing.”
What makes this particular beef fun, aside from the excellence of the two participants, is that there is history there. Doncic’s Dallas Mavericks humiliated Booker’s Phoenix Suns in the playoffs last year and earned a Western Conference Finals slot for their troubles.
Doncic, specifically , completely emasculated Booker in the process.
It’s easy to see why Booker now wants his revenge.
Frankly, this side of Booker is much more appealing than the petty one fans saw when he reacted to his ex, Kendall Jenner, dating Bad Bunny.
The NBA regular season is rapidly approaching its conclusion.
Kuz is winning both on and off the court these days. https://t.co/X4B9Xa9vIi
— Game 7 (@game7__) March 7, 2023
Once the playoffs begin, it will be interesting to see if the Suns and Mavericks square off again.
This has quietly become one of the more interesting rivalries in the NBA, especially with Kyrie Irving joining Dallas and Kevin Durant heading to Phoenix.
Will another chapter in Booker and Doncic’s feud ultimately be written in the postseason? One way or another, an answer will emerge soon enough.
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Charles Kruger has been credentialed to cover two Super Bowls, four NBA Finals, and one World Series. A 20-year veteran in the sports world, he has sources spanning the NBA, MLB, NFL, UFC and NASCAR. Currently residing in Los Angeles, Calif., he is Game 7’s go-to source for rumors surrounding the Lakers, Clippers and Dodgers.
