Despite Devin Booker’s best efforts, the New York Knicks breezed past the Phoenix Suns 112-98 at Madison Square Garden on Sunday night. It was the sixth straight loss for the Suns in this disastrous season, and their fans might be getting a bit worried after hearing Booker’s thoughts on MSG postgame.
“I’ve said it from the beginning, this is my favorite place to play outside of Phoenix,” Booker said. “I feel it every time I touch in the city. In the summer driving past, I think about it. I just want to take advantage and respect the game and history that’s been through here.”
Booker feels a strong connection to The Garden, and you wonder if he’d ever get the urge to play there more than once a season. The Knicks also have his former Kentucky teammate and good friend Karl-Anthony Towns among their ranks, along with his former Suns teammate Mikal Bridges. So, there are certainly reasons for him wanting to be a Knick someday.
These comments by Booker would be a non-story if the Suns were doing well, but they’re not. It would be an understatement to say they’re struggling, as they’ve dropped to 35-43 after this loss.
Booker has to take some responsibility for how bad things have been, but he excelled against the Knicks. The 28-year-old had 40 points (16-29 FG), four rebounds, three assists, and one steal on the night.
Booker certainly has enjoyed playing at MSG over the years. The 40 points he scored were the most by a Suns player there and for his career, he now averages 31.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game at the iconic venue. He had won his last five games at MSG, too, before suffering a loss here.
That’s an indicator in itself of the Suns’ downfall. This is very much a sinking ship, and you wouldn’t blame anyone for wanting out. As for what a Booker trade would look like for the Knicks this offseason, they’d have to give up a couple of first-round picks, for sure.
The Knicks will also have to part with some key pieces even if they don’t want to, as Booker has a $53.1 million cap hit next season. Towns and Jalen Brunson are unlikely to be dealt, which leaves the likes of Bridges, OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, and Mitchell Robinson on the table. You’d expect at least two of them to head to Phoenix if a deal is made.
Devin Booker Thinks The Grass Isn’t Always Greener On The Other Side
While Booker’s comments about MSG would worry Suns fans, they would take solace in the fact that he has publicly stated he doesn’t want to leave. That could change, of course, but Booker understands that the grass isn’t always greener.
“It’s not always greener on the other side. 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… It’s great people and there’s an untapped fan base that it’s never been done here before, and that’s what everybody’s been waiting on.”
“I’ll never be in a rebuild again. We’re always going to be competing and trying to get to a championship.”
Booker certainly isn’t going to get as much love as he gets in Phoenix anywhere else. He is a beloved figure in the area for sticking with the franchise during the dark days.
Booker doesn’t believe things are going to get as bad as they were in his early years, but that could happen. The Suns don’t really have a future and are unlikely to become contenders anytime soon. If the four-time All-Star wants to get back to the NBA Finals one day, he might have to leave the franchise.
We’ll see Booker in action next when the Suns take on the Golden State Warriors at Footprint Center on Tuesday at 10 PM ET.
