PHOENIX – The pressure in the Phoenix Suns’ final games seems astronomical from the fan’s perspective. The franchise has the most expensive roster in the NBA, and it sits on the outside looking in the Play-In. Basketball media outlets have a field day trying to punch down at a struggling Suns team. Reports have rapidly flown out of Phoenix’s possibility of trading Bradley Beal, Kevin Durant, and even the cornerstone of the team’s identity: Devin Booker.
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Mar 9, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) during the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Phoenix Suns at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Booker was drafted to the Valley in 2015 and endured some unbearable basketball in the first few years of his career. However, the front office surrounded the four-time All-Star with compatible role players that enhanced the roster into championship contenders.
However, after countless blunders since then, the Suns are back to being mediocre, but that hasn’t affected Booker’s perspective of wanting to stay in Phoenix. The 28-year-old talked to the Ringer’s Logan Murdock, discussing despite the rumors of his departure from the team, he has no interest in that happening.
Mar 24, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) reacts after a play during the first quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Booker on potentially leaving the Suns:
“It’s not always greener on the other side,” Booker tells Murdock. “People always want to leave their situation and end up in a worse situation and then they go missing. You’ll never have the love like you have by the team that drafted you.”
Despite the encouraging words of Booker wanting to stay, he made it a point of emphasis that he doesn’t want to rebuild again and always strives to compete for a championship. Suns owner Mat Ishbia echoed those same statements in an ESPN article a few weeks ago.
Mar 9, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) helps up guard Devin Booker (1) from the floor during the second half of the game against the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Phoenix might not have a choice with its current cap situation and Beal’s no-trade clause being forced to take a step back in trading Durant. However, if it was up to Booker, he would want to keep playing with the 15-time All-Star.
“Hell yeah, I want to play alongside him,” Booker says. “The team’s been in a tough situation. So, that’s the NBA today. I think [Durant] understands the business too, that when things aren’t going the right way, people are going to explore options. I don’t know how serious it actually was, but we moved past it. You see his morale, you see how he feels about the city.”
Mar 21, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) and Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) slap hands against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the second half at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
The duo of Booker and Durant is enough to compete for a championship. The final piece is just the surrounding role players that enhance the pair’s on-court ability. Phoenix’s front office will have a lot of work to fix the current roster’s construction, but as Booker stated, he’s here for the long haul.
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Reporter Tanner Tortorella covers general assignment for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @TannerTSports
