10 years into his career, how he helps lead the Suns back to contention will play a big part in his Phoenix legacy.
There are expected to be changes in the Phoenix Suns organization, but one thing that isn’t expected to change is Devin Booker’s team.
Through all the turmoil that’s ensued with the Suns over the last few years, the franchise’s all-time leading scorer and one of the greatest players to ever don a Phoenix Suns uniform appears to be untouchable and who the Valley will continue to build around.
In his ten years with the Suns, Booker has seen nearly everything; he’s helped lead a team to the NBA Finals, been on the franchise’s best regular season team, and also endured years where Phoenix has had the number one pick and won less than 20 games.
Back in a year of struggle and sadness, Booker has been in this spot before with the Suns, eliminated before the regular season is over.
Just like many of the greats who have stayed with one franchise throughout the entirety of their careers, Booker is experiencing the ebb and flow of being a part of an organization for an extended period.
If Booker is going to be one of those players who spends his whole career with one team, then this is an inflection point in his career. How he leads the team for the years to come will decide if his Suns tenure looks closer to Dirk Nowitzki’s Dallas Mavericks career, which ended with a title, or Reggie Miller’s time with the Indiana Pacers, one that didn’t end with the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
The Suns are thin with assets, which is no surprise to anyone. Even if they trade Kevin Durant and get a good return for him, they will still be in a big hole because of how badly the Bradley Beal trade stripped them of assets. But whether it’s winning a title or returning to the playoffs, it all boils down to how Booker performs and leads the team. As Mat Ishbia and others have said, he is the cornerstone and face of the franchise.
He’s seen a lot in his ten years, which means he knows what it means to be doubted, and he’s more equipped to deal with the team’s newest challenge: returning to a competitive team after years of being so.
With the season winding down, he’s already spoken about how the team needs to improve for next year.
Devin Booker on missing the playoffs “It’s been a slow bleed out.. I’ve felt this way a majority of the season.”
Q: What needs to change?
A: “More than one thing.” @12SportsAZ pic.twitter.com/twqtWCNXpU— Cameron Cox (@CamCox12) April 10, 2025
Booker’s loyalty to the Suns is greatly appreciated by the team’s fans. The chapter in the Valley of reaching the Finals and winning 64 games in the regular season appears to have closed, but if it reopens, it will be because of how Devin Booker leads the Suns over the coming years.
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