After two years of failed superteam experiments, the Phoenix Suns are hitting reset—but they aren’t worried about losing their franchise star. According to Suns owner Mat Ishbia, there’s no added pressure to win just to keep Devin Booker happy, because he believes Booker is fully committed to the team’s long-term vision.
“I don’t feel any pressure to win to keep Devin happy,” said Suns owner Mat Ishbia on SiriusXM NBA Radio. “Devin’s gonna be happy cause we’re gonna try to win and we’re gonna do things to be aligned with the vision and the identity that he agrees with. We don’t need any extra pressure to win; we want to win every single day, we want to get better every single day, but expectations have changed. When you have Kevin, Devin, and Brad, people think it’s championship or bust, and we unfortunately busted two years in a row. It didn’t work. We have Devin Booker, and I’m not concerned about him at all besides that he is Phoenix Suns basketball. He’s the All-Time leading scorer, everyone knows him and loves him, and he’s great in the community. Devin’s part of our future and our present, and we’re gonna build around him and hopefully make the fans proud, that’s what I’m most excited about.”
Ishbia, who has been in charge since February 2023, is finally speaking out on his team’s current situation after a humbling season put them in a mini-rebuild. With Booker now the last remaining piece of a failed Big Three experiment, the Suns remain committed to building their identity and entire basketball future around his skillset, even if it takes time to return to contention. They proved it earlier this month with a lucrative, two-year, $154 million contract agreement.
The 28-year-old guard has played 673 games for the Suns (and 47 playoff games), with averages of 24.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game on 46.4% shooting. On February 3, 2025, he surpassed Walter Davis as the Suns’ all-time leading scorer, and now his legacy will be immortalized forever.
Through everything, Booker has remained loyal to the Suns and has never shown any signs of wanting out. His loyalty has never wavered, and the franchise intends to return the gesture tenfold by making him the center of everything they do. Booker is part of the Suns’ very identity now, especially coming off one of their worst stretches in recent memory.
For the past two seasons, the Suns have struggled to keep up in the Western Conference, and their campaigns have ended in disappointment despite adding Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal. Now, at least, the Suns are changing course by ditching the superteam model in favor of depth and flexibility at multiple positions.
Going into the 2025-26 campaign, the Suns have renewed optimism about their standing in the West. With a brand new roster, the focus now is on aligning with Booker’s vision and building a sustainable winning culture. Young players, draft picks, and culture pieces will be the recipe for success in Phoenix that should help them return to contention in the West.
While the superteam model may be behind them, the Suns still have a foundation worth building on—and it starts with Devin Booker. If Ishbia stays true to his word, Phoenix will focus on stability, culture, and continuity as they enter a new era led by one of the league’s most respected stars.
