Former UK guard joins some big names as 4th youngest to 3,000 points

Former Kentucky basketball star Devin Booker became the fourth-youngest player to reach 3,000 career points in NBA history in the Phoenix Suns’ loss to the Brooklyn Nets Monday night.

The 21-year-old needed six points to reach the mark going into the game and got it with a 19-foot jumper with 7:46 to play in the first quarter.

“It means a lot,” Booker said after the game. “My dream my whole life is to play in the NBA. Once I got here I realized I wanted to leave a mark. … I’m trying to do it, and trying to get wins along with it.”

Booker’s 11 first-quarter points got the Suns out to a fast start in their eventual 98-92 loss at home. Booker finished the game with 18 points.

The three players to reach 3,000 points at a younger age were LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony.

Last season, Booker set a franchise record of 70 points in a game against the Boston Celtics. He was just the sixth player in NBA history to score 70 or more points in a game, following in the footsteps of Wilt Chamberlain (six times), Kobe Bryant, David Thompson, Elgin Baylor and David Robinson.

This story was originally published November 7, 2017 at 9:39 AM with the headline "Former UK guard joins some big names as 4th youngest to 3,000 points."