Back in the early stages of Devin Booker’s career, the Phoenix Suns were still trying to find their footing-both on the court and in the front office. Fast forward to now, and Booker is not just the face of the franchise-he’s one of the most consistent and dynamic scorers in the league. But according to former Suns head coach Earl Watson, that future nearly never happened.
As the Suns prepare to take on the Detroit Pistons on Thursday, they do so riding a stretch of four wins in their last six games-impressive, especially considering they’ve been without both Booker and Jalen Green due to injury. But it’s a timely reminder of just how essential Booker has been to the identity of this team over the past decade.
Booker has built a reputation on reliability. In ten seasons with Phoenix, he’s never played fewer than 53 games in a single campaign.
That kind of durability, paired with his offensive arsenal, makes him a cornerstone in today’s NBA. But once upon a time, that foundation nearly crumbled.
Earl Watson recently revealed that former Suns owner Robert Sarver once floated the idea of trading Booker for Jimmy Butler, who at the time was starring for the Chicago Bulls. That’s not just a what-if-it’s a seismic shift that could’ve altered the trajectory of both franchises.
Watson, though, wasn’t having it.
“In that moment, I was the biggest Devin Booker advocate,” Watson said. “It could’ve changed my entire coaching trajectory.
I seen a kid that could be one of the greatest players ever. I said, ‘If you trade Devin Booker, I am resigning tonight.’”
That’s not just a coach backing his player-that’s a coach betting his job on a 20-year-old guard still finding his way in the league. And while Watson’s coaching tenure didn’t last much longer-he was fired just three games into the 2017-18 season-his role in keeping Booker in Phoenix might be one of his most lasting contributions to the franchise.
Watson’s overall record with the Suns (33-85 over 118 games) doesn’t exactly jump off the page, but his belief in Booker clearly did. In retrospect, it’s hard to argue with the conviction. Booker has grown into a perennial All-Star, a clutch performer, and the heartbeat of a Suns team that’s been a Western Conference contender in recent years.
The near-trade also serves as a reminder of how fragile a team’s future can be. One deal, one decision, one conversation can reshape a franchise.
Had that Butler-for-Booker swap gone through, we might be talking about a very different Suns team today-one without the steady hand and scoring punch of No. 1.
Instead, Phoenix doubled down on its young star, and the payoff has been significant. As Booker continues to recover from injury, the Suns are staying afloat, showing the kind of resilience that’s been a hallmark of his career. And while Watson’s time in Phoenix was short-lived, his stand in that pivotal moment helped shape the Suns’ future.
Sometimes, the biggest wins don’t show up in the box score.