Devin Booker is having a historic NBA playoff run for the Phoenix Suns, setting a new record for most points in a player’s first postseason.
Devin Booker is re-writing the history books in his first trip to the NBA Finals. Entering Game 4 on Wednesday night, the Phoenix Suns guard had already reached 500 points in the first 19 playoff games of his career.
With a 42-point performance in a losing effort, Booker surpassed NBA Hall of Famer Rick Barry for the most points in a debut postseason run. He went 17 of 27 from the floor and hit eight of nine free throws.
With at least two games remaining in the NBA Finals, Booker still has time to add to his 542-point total.
Booker’s performance put him in elite company. Barry’s NBA record – 521 points – had stood since 1967. Julius “Dr. J” Erving came oh-so-close to breaking it in 1977, scoring 518 in his first postseason.
What’s the record for most points in an NBA Finals game?
Booker’s latest scoring burst might have some folks wondering about the most points scored in a single NBA Finals game. That record belongs to Los Angeles Lakers legend Elgin Baylor, who scored 61 points against the Boston Celtics back in 1962.
Both Barry and Michael Jordan hit 55 points in 1967 and 1993, respectively. Only three other players – Bob Pettit, Jerry West and LeBron James have scored 50-plus in an NBA Finals game.
The pressure of the Finals is enormous and only continues growing as the series stretches on. 24-year-old Devin Booker is proving he’s more than ready to rise to the occasion.