Koa Peat, the Phoenix Suns’ 30th pick, isn’t just ready to play alongside Devin Booker, he’s already calling him a “legend.” That’s the vibe coming straight from the rookie, and honestly, if this kid’s confidence and respect are any indication, the Suns might have just snagged something special. Peat believes he can totally help the five-time All-Star and the team on the court, which is exactly what you want to hear from your newest talent.
The Arizona Kid’s Game is Legit
This ain’t just hype, either. Peat was an absolute force last season at Arizona. We’re talking third-team All-Big 12 selection, averaging 14.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.6 assists while hitting 35% from deep. He even landed on the Big 12 All-Freshman team, helping the Wildcats claw their way to the Final Four for the first time since 2001. Dude’s a winner. The 19-year-old, 6-foot-8 forward secured his first-round spot thanks to his wicked paint scoring, those deceptive ball-fakes, nasty hesitation moves, and a smooth jump shot. Peat is dead set that his skillset and overall ability, rocking alongside Booker, are going to be crucial additions next season.
His admiration for Booker is crystal clear, too. “Just playing off him,” Peat said in an interview on Amazon Prime. “Trying to make him better as a player. Doing the little things. Creating for him and just learning from him. He is one of the best players in the league. He is a legend. Learning from him, I think, is going to help my game for sure.” Talk about setting the tone for a new teammate, right?
Summer League Fire and What’s Next
Peat wasted zero time showing what he can do, logging four appearances with the Suns in the NBA Summer League. He put up some seriously impressive numbers: 16.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.5 steals, all while shooting a slick 51% from the field. He consistently dropped 12 or more points in every single game, even hitting a high of 19 points on Wednesday. He got valuable minutes with teammates like Khaman Maluach, Rasheer Fleming, and Koby Brea, which should definitely smooth his transition when the squad gets together for training camp in September.
He flat out wanted to use summer league to adjust to the next-level competition the NBA throws at you, and he believes his time in the desert was a success. “I feel like from a young age, I try to play to my own pace,” Peat explained. “Feel out the game with my IQ. When to go fast, when to go slow. Pick and choose when to speed it up a little bit, but I feel like the pace of the game, it has been a smooth transition for me.”
With training camp on the horizon in September, all eyes will be on how Peat integrates with Booker and the rest of the crew. If his Summer League performance and respect for his new “legendary” teammate are anything to go by, Suns fans have a lot to be hyped about for the upcoming season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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