Devin Booker has been the face of the Phoenix Suns for nearly a decade now, and despite the turbulence the franchise has endured, his loyalty has never wavered. While the modern NBA often sees stars bouncing from team to team in pursuit of titles, Booker made it clear why Phoenix remains home.
Speaking with Arizona Sports, he reflected on what the organization and city have meant to him since he entered the league.
“I was embraced as an 18-year-old kid. Even when I was definitely not playing my best, I was able to play through mistakes, learn through mistakes, and people still support me. Once the success came in 2021, you just felt the energy change.”
“You felt that everybody seen me grow into that type of player. I owe it to this city, this fanbase. I still feel it. We need to bring a ring here, that’s my main objective.”
That sense of gratitude explains much of Booker’s unwavering loyalty. Drafted 13th overall in 2015, he grew into an All-Star and All-NBA player entirely within the Suns’ system. Unlike many players whose early struggles lead to skepticism, Booker was empowered to grow through his mistakes.
The Suns allowed him to develop, and the fanbase embraced him even during losing seasons. That trust forged a bond that he now feels compelled to repay by delivering the city its first-ever championship.
On the court, Booker has built one of the most consistent resumes among guards in the NBA. Through 10 seasons, his career averages stand at 24.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 5.2 assists on 46.4 percent shooting from the field and 35.4 percent from three.
Last season, he posted 25.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 7.1 assists, continuing to show his evolution from pure scorer to full-time playmaker. His accolades include four All-Star appearances, two All-NBA selections (First Team in 2022, Third Team in 2024), and a Three-Point Contest title in 2018.
But loyalty doesn’t just stem from stats. It’s rooted in the shared journey. Booker carried the Suns through years of irrelevance, only to lead them back into contention with the Finals run in 2021.
That season became a turning point, proving that Phoenix could compete on the biggest stage again. Even though the championship slipped through their fingers, it validated Booker’s decision to stick it out.
The last two years, however, haven’t gone as planned. The Kevin Durant–Bradley Beal–Devin Booker “Big 3” era collapsed almost as quickly as it started. Phoenix was swept in the first round in their first season together, then failed to even make the Play-In Tournament last year.
Durant has since been traded to the Houston Rockets, and Beal was waived before signing with the Los Angeles Clippers. Booker is once again the unquestioned centerpiece, carrying the torch into the next chapter.
For Suns owner Mat Ishbia, success this season won’t be judged solely by wins and losses, but by the progress of the franchise as a whole. For Booker, though, the mission is clear: win a championship in Phoenix. His loyalty has never been about convenience, it has been about finishing what he started, in the city that believed in him first.
And while the NBA’s landscape may continue to shift around him, Devin Booker’s roots in Phoenix remain as firm as ever. For him, loyalty is not just about staying. It’s about delivering.
