Booker pulling for Suns’ award finalists
Devin Booker was happy for Monty Williams, Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson being one of three finalists for three different NBA awards, but not satisfied.
“I want to see them win it,” Booker said after scoring 25 points in Sunday’s Game 1 win over New Orleans at Footprint Center in the Western Conference first round. “That’s what they deserve.”
The Suns three-time All-Star made a late entry into the NBA MVP conversation, but 76ers big Joel Embiid, Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and last year’s winner, Nuggets big Nikola Jokic, were named finalists for the award Sunday.
No worries. Booker has bigger things on his agenda.
“Our main focus, it’s playoff time, man,” said Booker, ahead of Game 2 Tuesday night. “I want those guys to obviously get their awards because we celebrate everything as a team, but it’s go time now. We have our eyes on the prize.”
Bridges ended up finishing second to Celtics guard Marcus Smart for NBA Defensive Player of the Year as the award was announced Monday evening.
The Suns had been campaigning for Bridges to win it, but Smart edged him by 52 points (257 to 202).
Smart received 37 first-place votes to Bridges’ 22.
Williams is a finalist for NBA Coach of the Year along with Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins and Heat coach Erik Spoelstra.
Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau edged Williams last year in the smallest margin of victory since the current voting format was introduced in the 2002-03 season.
Johnson has Williams as a lock to win it this year.
“I think so, but that’s not my vote,” Johnson said. The media votes for these NBA awards based on play in the regular season.
“He’s the only coach I’ve played for in the NBA, but everything I’ve seen him do from a coaching standpoint has been so high level. From Xs and Os to encouraging guys to being on guys when they need to picked up a little bit and then kind of keeping us motivated from game to game.”
Williams coached Phoenix to the NBA’s best record this season at 64-18. The Suns set a franchise for wins in a single season and road victories (32).
“Eighty-two games and we’re grown men,” Johnson said. “It’s not like when you’re mad as us, you can berate us and put us on the line and we’ll fall in line. So he has a good way of getting us to do what he wants us to do and play with that high level of energy and play with that high level of competitive spirit.”
Johnson is a finalist for Sixth Man of the Year with Heat guard Tyler Herro and Cavaliers big Kevin Love.
“I’m taking it away as a group award for the ‘Bench Mob,’” Johnson said. “On one hand, it’s something I appreciate, but it’s not just me on the court in that second unit. It’s ‘Bench Mob’ across the board has found ways to be successful this season.”
Johnson dished out props to Landry Shamet, Cameron Payne, JaVale McGee and Torrey Craig, saying “all bring something to the table.”
Herro is favored to win the award, but Johnson averaged career highs in points per game (12.5 ppg.), field goal percentage (46.%) and 3-point percentage (42.5%) in his third NBA season out of North Carolina.
Johnson scored 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting in Sunday’s win.