Chiney Ogwumike pays Madison Booker ultimate compliment during live ESPN analysis
Kevin Durant remains Madison Booker's favorite player, and Chiney Ogwumike paid the Texas forward the ultimate compliment after saying she shares similarities to his game
Texas forward Madison Booker was compared to Kevin Durant by ESPN analyst Chiney Ogwumike, as the Longhorns prepared to face South Carolina on Friday.
Booker has made a stunning start to her collegiate career, averaging 16.5 points in each of her first two seasons and earning SEC Player of the Year honors heading into the NCAA Tournament. Booker's average has risen to 18.8 points as the sophomore has helped Texas reach the Final Four, and like Durant did in his one-year stint with the Longhorns, she wears No. 35.
The 19-year-old has made it clear in the past that Durant is her favorite player, and Ogwumike has noticed similarities in her game to the two-time NBA champion and former MVP. "The mid-range is a lost art, but Madison Booker has made it a masterpiece," Ogwumike said on ESPN.
"She's made 115 mid-range shots, the most in D1. You might be familiar with the look, even though it's a different Hook 'em player. She reminds us all of Kevin Durant, someone that has really helped guide her career.
"KD, the second most mid-range makes in the NBA over the last 10 years. You see how he gets to his spots? Guess what, Maddy Booker does the exact same thing. In our conversation, she also gave love to Carmelo Anthony for that jab-step you see right there. No one can stop her when she gets to the place she loves, we call those kill spots."
Ogwumike went on to add: "When you think of Kevin Durant, he's great in the open floor. And when you think about last year, she ran the point with Rori Harmon out, so she's prepared to throw passes on time and on target.
"Last but not least, this is pro level skill right here from Madison Booker. You can see KD do this - a guy that was amazing, 35 in burnt orange, knocking it down. This right here is why she's next level. She gets the pin-down, I won't be surprised if we see this today - come off screen, cool, calm, collected. What she has been able to do y'all only as a sophomore is truly remarkable."
Durant attended a Longhorns game during Booker's freshman year, and has since met the college basketball star on several occasions. When reflecting on Booker's freshman season, Durant said: "She had an incredible season. Our point guard went out early this year so she had to step up and assume a different role, playing a point-forward.
"Future is bright. As a freshman, she's got so much more to do, but she's already staking claim in this league right now and she's going to be even better as she moves forward."
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Durant only needed one year with Texas before advancing to the NBA, where he was selected second overall in 2007. Durant averaged 25.8 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game in his single season, and became the first freshman to receive Naismith College Player of the Year.
The Longhorns retired his No. 35 jersey, and Durant expects the number to be put to rest in the women's program once Booker moves on. "She's gonna have that thing retired on the other side," Durant said.
Booker was, of course, flattered to hear that from her idol, and said via ESPN: "I don't think anybody can beat his career at Texas, he was one-and-done, he had a great freshman year. That's big words from a legend of basketball.
"He's seen a lot basically. I take those words and I put my trust in God's plan. He has it written down already, he has it in stock and I'm staying humble and just staying the course."