On Monday, the Phoenix Suns held their first media day of the Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal era. With Booker serving as the team’s de facto captain, the players showed no hesitation in rising to the challenge.
Phoenix, like the rest of the NBA, is attempting to dethrone the defending champion Denver Nuggets, and Booker is convinced that more time spent with his teammates would lead to victory.
“The Nuggets played their asses off throughout the whole playoffs,” Booker said. “So they’re the front-runners right now so everybody else has to try to catch them and knock them off the throne.”
However, “at the beginning of training camp, I am excited to have the team, get acquainted with the guys, and get everything arranged.”
With the Suns, the 35-year-old Durant appeared in 11 postseason games and eight regular season games this year. He averaged 29 points per contest in the playoffs.
Both he and Booker will play pivotal roles in what might be a historically productive offense.
Book is someone I admire and like being around both on and off the basketball floor, he added. I’m excited to keep working on this with Book.
Booker, who has admired Durant his whole life, said of the two, “We have a great deal of respect for each other and we continue to push each other.”
Booker, who will be 26 years old this season, is a nine-year NBA veteran with career averages of 23.9 points, 4.8 assists, and 4.0 rebounds.
Booker is excited to get back into the lineup with the Phoenix Suns, who advanced to the second round of the playoffs by defeating the Los Angeles Clippers before losing to the Denver Nuggets.
Booker said that “all these guys make the game easier for me.” At the same time, we must all show aggression. We’ll quickly learn how to strike that equilibrium.
The Suns acquired Beal from the Washington Wizards in a three-team megadeal in June, joining Booker and Durant in Phoenix.
Beal said he is up for the task of motivating Booker to greater heights.
“(Booker) can only just get better and that sounds scary to say,” Beal said, “and I’m excited to see that.”
As one observer put it, “His sky is unlimited, honestly, and I think he’s just now scratching the surface of people really waking up and respecting his game and understanding that he can carry a team.”
In response to a query regarding who would be the team’s star player, Suns managing partner Mat Ishbia pointed squarely at Devin Booker.
“You know how sometimes on the internet people will ask stuff like, ‘Who would you construct your squad around if you could purchase an NBA franchise?’ Ishbia stated on Tuesday, “My guy was Devin Booker.” “I lucked into the ideal situation.”
