The NBA calendar always seems to announce itself in strange little ways. The weather cools, the leaves start turning, and suddenly Devin Booker is back in the middle of the national conversation.
That’s where Booker lives now: in the spotlight, in the noise, and under the kind of scrutiny that comes with being one of the league’s best shooting guards in an overlooked market. He’s entering his 12th season, still carrying the weight of Phoenix expectations and still hearing the criticism that comes with not having a championship ring.
The latest round of chatter centers on the contract. Booker is set to make $57 million this season, with that number rising over the next few years. The final two years of the deal are part of an extension that, at the time, put him on record as the highest annual average ever on a two-year, $145 million reported deal.
That price tag has made him an easy target for national debate. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said, “Devin Booker is being paid like he’s a top 10 player, and he hasn’t been a top 10 player these last couple years.”
CBS Sports’ Sam Quinn widened the conversation beyond Booker alone, saying: “The max contract for the late-20s guards, especially at the supermax level, is becoming one of the more reliably terrifying contracts in the NBA. Booker.
Fox. Trae Young.
If Mitchell slips at all he falls in that camp. Even Reaves at the 25% max is a risk, albeit a lesser one.”
Booker’s money isn’t only about production. It also reflects loyalty to the Suns, who have leaned on him as the face of the franchise. And last season, he helped push Phoenix back into the postseason in one of the league’s most surprising playoff runs.
The Suns know exactly what they have. At the end of last season, owner Mat Ishbia called Booker “Devin Booker is everything that we want here in Phoenix as a leader, as the star player in the community, on the court, off the court,” and added, “People don’t realize the gravity he brings to a basketball game. I can go through all (the) details, but the truth is, Devin Booker is a winner and he cares and does all the little things that maybe the normal eyes don’t see and catch.”
Booker and Phoenix will spend this season trying to quiet the doubters again. And if his name is already back in the national crosshairs for all the familiar reasons, then yes, basketball season is officially back.
In Other News...
Suns Face One Huge Early Question Around Jalen Green And Booker
Devin Booker is once again at the center of the Suns outlook heading into the new season, and for good reason. Bill Simmons and Rob Mahoney of The Ringer pointed to Booker as the player to watch in Phoenix, noting his desire to take more shots and lean into the kind of aggressive scoring burden that has long shaped his value. For a Suns team still trying to define itself, that kind of volume could be one of the clearest indicators of where the offense is headed.
The more intriguing wrinkle is how that plan fits with Jalen Green, the teams second-highest-paid player, and whether his presence can help create cleaner looks for Booker. Phoenix needs the pairing to work in a way that makes the offense easier to navigate, not more crowded, and that puts a spotlight on how the guards share responsibility. Booker wants to shoot more and enjoy the game, but the Suns still have to figure out how the rest of the offense supports that vision. [Read more 🡒]
Rockets Should Avoid This Veteran Guard Gamble At Any Cost
The idea of Houston chasing Jrue Holiday has the kind of surface appeal that always pops up when a team starts climbing the standings. Holiday still brings the defensive edge, playoff seasoning and steadying presence that contenders covet, and a roster with young talent can make a veteran guard look even more attractive on paper. But the fit gets murkier once the deal is broken down, especially for a Rockets team trying to keep its books clean and its core on an upward track.
A package built around Jabari Smith Jr., Bogdan Bogdanovic and a future first-round pick would be a steep price for a player in Holidays stage of his career, and it would come with the kind of cap complications that can linger well beyond one season. It also would mean Houston sacrificing part of its current development curve for a short-term upgrade, all for a move that, at least for now, has no reported traction between the teams. [Read more 🡒]
Suns Need A Cleaner Showing As Booker Tries To Break Out
The Suns are back at Mortgage Matchup Center for another preseason test against the Spurs, and the early focus is less on the record than on the details that have been slipping. Phoenix is 0-2 in the preseason and trying to clean up a few things before the games start to count, with Devin Bookers perimeter shooting among the main areas to watch as the team looks for a more polished showing.
Mikal Bridges rolled his ankle in a recent game and is considered possibly available, though the coach may choose to be cautious and sit him anyway. For a Suns team still sorting out its rhythm, every preseason minute matters, and this one offers a chance to look sharper while keeping an eye on the health of an important rotation piece. [Read more 🡒]