Devin Booker spoke about his loyalty to the Phoenix Suns ahead of a game on Tuesday against Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors. Curry has similarly only played for one franchise and is largely expected to retire as a member of the Warriors.
“You know it because there’s not many,” Booker said after Tuesday’s shootaround. “So I know he holds a special place in everybody’s heart here in the Bay. And I feel a similar type of love in Phoenix. It’s something special. It’s kind of hard to explain, but there’s a different type of love that comes with it. I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
Booker signed a two-year, $145 million contract extension with the Suns this past offseason just as they initiated a reset around him by trading away Kevin Durant. The Suns hope they can eventually become contenders again with Booker after reaching the Finals in 2021 and then having a series of disappointing finishes after going all-in for Durant.
“It’s a lot of pride,” Booker said. “It’s a lot of responsibility. It’s something that I try to communicate to the young guys. Having those couple deep playoff runs, and just getting the city to become electric, is a feeling that I’m chasing, want to get back to.”
Booker was drafted 13th overall in 2015 by the Suns after his freshman season at Kentucky.
“I was adopted as an 18-year-old coming in,” Booker said of Phoenix. “I was embraced through tough times, all the way to making a finals run. The city watched me grow up. I enjoyed growing up in the city. I’m sure Steph can say a lot of similar things about this area.”
Booker spoke fondly of players in the generation before him that also only played for one franchise.
“The ones I think of off the top of my head: Tim Duncan, Dirk (Nowitzki), Kobe (Bryant),” Booker said. “I had a chance to play against all three of them guys too, close to their last seasons, or their last season, so seeing their farewell tours and the love that they got. At that point, not only from their cities, but I think every city around the NBA also acknowledged it and showed love to the loyalty and embraced it.”
While Curry has won four titles and the Warriors are expected to be a playoff team this season, the Suns have a lot more work to do around Booker. But Booker is committed long-term.
“I don’t think he’s going anywhere,” Booker said of Curry. “And I don’t think I am either.”