At the 2015 NBA draft, the Detroit Pistons had a decision to make with the No. 8 pick and narrowed their options to Stanley Johnson and Devin Booker. The Pistons selected Kentavious Caldwell-Pope at No. 8 in the 2013 draft and was perceived as having more positional overlap with Booker than Johnson. Johnson’s strength and profile projected him as being more of a small forward who could also play power forward in some lineup configurations.
“This is one of the things I learned afterwards, but I actually believe is true,” said Zach Lowe this week. “And is not just spin. Because it’s actually more embarrassing for them. It was Stanley Johnson or Devin Booker. [That] was their draft room debate. And they chose Stanley Johnson.”
Booker grew up in the Detroit area and was a fan of the Pistons during his childhood. Booker was on record ahead of the draft saying he hoped to be selected by the Pistons.
From Perry A. Farrell of the Detroit Free Press:
“‘Growing up watching the team and just loving the dynasty that they had here and being a part of it,’ he said, ‘I think I understand the meaning of having Detroit Pistons across my chest.’ Booker’s dream of becoming a Piston could be a problem, however, because the team already has Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Jodie Meeks at shooting guard. At 6-feet-6, would he be versatile enough to play small forward? ‘I think I am,’ he said. ‘I’m still growing into my body. I’m working on it. I saw a statistic where the last five NBA champions led the NBA in three-point shooting, and that’s what I do.’ Booker hit 58 threes in his only season at Kentucky and, during one stretch, made 20 of 28. He averaged 10 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.1 assists in his short stay with the Wildcats. Scouts compare his game to Klay Thompson of the NBA champion Golden State Warriors. He admits that Thompson is a player he watches. Growing up, it was Richard Hamilton. ‘I watched a lot of Rip; it’s crazy now, because I really wasn’t a shooter back then,’ he said. ‘I was just one of the bigger kids. I loved the way Rip played. Big Shot (Chauncey) Billups and Tayshaun’s (Prince) block. I remember everything.'”
Booker fell to the Phoenix Suns at No. 13 and he is a multiple All-NBA selection and helped lead the franchise to The Finals in 2021.
