The Phoenix Suns’ Devin Booker is among the NBA’s longest-tenured gamers. Solely Stephen Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokic, and Dwight Powell have been with their groups for longer.
The taking pictures guard has been a proud member of the Phoenix Suns since 2015, evolving from a backup at Kentucky to one of many NBA’s finest taking pictures guards.
Booker has remained loyal to the franchise for a very long time, though his first postseason look was in 2021. Throughout that run, he led the group all the best way to the NBA Finals.
The Suns have been two wins away from successful a championship, however Giannis Antetokounmpo’s legendary efficiency was sufficient for the Milwaukee Bucks.
Since then, Phoenix have struggled to return to the top of the playoffs, present process quite a few modifications in recent times. Nevertheless, Booker has remained a continuing over time regardless of individuals’s want to persuade him to go away.
After signing a two-year contract extension that takes his deal by way of the 2029-30 season, Booker can be 33 when his participant possibility kicks in. He appears to be comfortable enjoying for the Suns, even when they haven’t been as profitable as he would love.
The Suns’ struggles should not for the shortage of making an attempt, as a result of they’ve desperately tried to construct a contender round him. It initially labored out with the Finals group in 2021, however that core was changed by the trio of Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal.
This undertaking didn’t succeed for the Suns’ entrance workplace and their majority proprietor, Mat Ishbia, as they’ve solely superior to the Western Convention Semifinals since then. Ishbia has since obtained main criticism as a result of he was the driving drive behind their dedication to Durant.
With this type of loyalty, former NBA head coach David Fizdale believes Booker has been ok to obtain an honor from the Suns that even Steve Nash has not.
“Simply being there with him, the conversations we had about how a lot he cares concerning the group, how a lot he loves enjoying there. Additionally realizing the opposite facet, Mat Ishbia, Brian Gregory, how these guys really feel about him, it’s a mutual love affair,” Fizdale mentioned on NBA TV.
“Rightfully so. He’s a first-class man, a big-time participant, they received him as a child, and also you watched him develop by way of his complete profession. He received you to the Finals; I do know him, he’s nonetheless making an attempt to determine get again to that.
“I simply suppose he’s the type of man you need together with your franchise for his complete profession. I’m predicting, going out on a ledge proper now, he’s gonna have a statue in Phoenix.”
Booker has been stellar to start out the 2025-26 season, averaging 29.3 factors, 4.7 rebounds, and seven.2 assists, whereas taking pictures 50% from the sphere and 41% from past the arc.
The Suns are nonetheless not the contending group they as soon as have been, however they appear higher than final season, when the trio of Durant, Beal, and Booker failed to fulfill expectations.
Now that the Suns face decrease expectations, they seem able to shock individuals. This was evidenced by their win in opposition to the San Antonio Spurs, which handed their opponents their first lack of the season.
Suns legend Charles Barkley thinks Booker is in a very good scenario as a result of he’s enjoying for a group and metropolis that adore him whereas incomes an enormous wage. It may not result in many massive wins, however he can be remembered as an iconic athlete in Phoenix historical past.
