Devin Booker still wants to be a Phoenix Sun for life, despite the team’s abysmal 4-6 start to the season and a defense that’s letting opponents run wild. That’s the word from HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, who reported Wednesday on the Deals and Dunks show that “every indication” suggests the Suns want to keep Booker and build around him. Even more crucially, Booker himself “still wants to be a Sun for life, ideally.” Talk about loyalty!
Booker’s Decade-Long Commitment to the Desert
Booker has poured his entire 12-year NBA career into Phoenix, ever since they snatched him up in the first round of the 2015 draft. He’s not just been good, he’s blossomed into an elite scorer, racking up five All-Star nods and two All-NBA selections. We’ve seen him drag the Suns to multiple playoff runs, even making an NBA Finals appearance back in 2021. The dude, now 30 years old, has consistently said he wants to retire rocking the purple and orange. You gotta respect that kind of commitment in today’s NBA landscape. He’s averaging a solid 25.1 points, 4.8 assists, and 2.7 rebounds per game, with sweet 48.3/35.7/93.7 shooting splits to boot. He’s doing his part.
The Suns Are Crashing Hard Around Their Star
Here’s the gut-punch, though: Phoenix’s last two playoff trips both ended in the first round, and this season is kicking off like a bad dream. They’re sitting at a dismal 4-6 through their first 10 games, and the big problem is clear as day. Their defense is a sieve. The Suns have struggled massively to slow down opposing offenses, posting a defensive rating of 119.3, which ranks them a horrifying No. 28 in the entire league, according to NBA.com. Booker’s still out there putting up numbers, but the team’s struggles are loud.
While Booker’s desire to stay is clear, and the Suns say they want to keep him, you know how this league works. If Phoenix can’t get their act together and start winning before the trade deadline, you can bet front offices across the NBA will be sniffing around, inquiring about Booker’s availability. For now, it doesn’t look like a change of scenery is on the horizon, but if the Suns keep bleeding games and their defense stays in the league’s basement, those “ideally” and “want to keep” statements might get tested real quick. The clock is ticking in Phoenix, and everyone’s watching to see if they can finally get it together around their star.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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