Devin Booker will have ball in his hands in looking to lead Phoenix Suns to first NBA championship

Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker took a question during Monday afternoon’s media day at Footprint Center about him having “arrived” and set the record straight — with a smile.

“I feel like I’ve been there honestly, since ’96,” Booker said.

Booker was born on Oct. 30, 1996.

“That’s when I arrived,” he added. “Yeah.”

Booker understands the intent of the question, but he’s come a long way from the kid who grew up in Grand Rapids, Mich., moved to Moss Point, Miss., to play ball at his father’s high school and became a first-round pick in 2015 after a one-and-done season at Kentucky.

Fully bearded up now, Devin Armani Booker is that dude and even with Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal on the squad, this is his team to lead to a championship this season.

“Book is somebody that I really admire, and I love being around not just on the basketball court, but off the court as well,” Durant said.

Dureant and Booker spent time in Monaco this summer.

“It’s good to build as teammates. We’ve hung around and hung around each other before as opponents, but to hang with each other as teammates was a different feeling. I’m looking forward to continuing to build with Book on and off the floor as we go through this journey together.”

It’s hard to believe Booker is entering his ninth NBA season after he came into the league as the youngest player in his 2015 draft class at age 18.

He now has his own Nike signature shoes — Book 1.

“I need my pairs,” said Beal, who is under Jordan brand. “We’re still Nike family. He knows I need my pairs in every flavor he got.”

So does Ish Wainright, who wears the same shoe size as Booker.

“I can’t wait to get mine,” he said. “He knows.”

Booker will step onto the floor in his signature kicks with the ball in his hands far more than normal.

The Suns not only traded Chris Paul to Washington in acquiring Beal, they also didn’t bring in someone who can be considered a true point guard.

Suns coach Frank Vogel has talked about having multiple ball handlers.

Beal noted how when there isn’t a point guard that needs to have the ball, they can hit ahead to the person they want to have it.

Still, when the game slows down, particularly in a tight one, one person likely will take on that playmaker role.

That dude is Booker, the only player left from the Suns 2021 finals team.

“I just go out there and play basketball, man,” said Booker, who averaged 5.5 assists to 2.7 turnovers last season. “Take the best available shot and understanding the artillery that we have with us. All these guys make the game easier for me and I understand that. We all have to be aggressive at the same time. Finding that balance and I’m sure we’ll pick up on it quick once we get into training camp.”

Booker has improved as a playmaker, but he sounds up to taking on the role of reading defenses and initiating offense — and also doing what he does in scoring — even though all those duties can be taxing.

Not for that dude Booker.

At least not during those 48 minutes of action.

“Not at one point in a game do I ever feel tired or feel like there’s a workload,” said Booker, who averaged 34.6 minutes last year in the regular season, 41.7 minutes in the playoffs.

“It’s just hoop, and I have a lot of help around me to take a lot of pressure off. I’ve been in different situations before where there’s a lot more on my shoulders.”

Suns president of basketball operations and general manager James Jones knows his franchise player.

No worries about Booker being the primary ball handler.

“I’m excited about the opportunity for him,” Jones said. “And I can tell you he’s not going to complain about having the ball in his hands more.”

Suns backup guard Jordan Goodwin isn’t worried either, especially after competing against Booker in pickup games this summer.

“He can score the ball very well, but I think his passing is very underrated,” Goodwin said. “I think he’s seen a lot of different coverages. I think he can make the reads out of double teams and things like that.”

Booker has the city of Phoenix in the palm of his hands, but he still hasn’t won a championship.

The Denver Nuggets came into Booker’s house at Footprint Center and took Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals in dominant fashion, 125-100, on their way to winning their first NBA title last season.

Booker hasn’t forgotten that.

“The Nuggets played their ass off throughout the whole playoffs,” he said. “They’re the frontrunners right now. Everybody else has to catch them and knock them off the throne, but I’m excited to have the team at the start of training camp and get acquainted with the guys and get everything situated.”

The Suns have more scoring, more 3-point shooting and a defensive-minded head coach.

They traded Deandre Ayton to the Blazers in a three-team deal that brought them 7-footer Jusuf Nurkic, who is viewed by the Suns as someone who is a better fit at center with their Big 3.

Their team owner, Mat Ishbia, says the Suns are the best team in the NBA.

With that being said, the Suns start and end with that dude who “arrived” in 1996 in Grand Rapids and has grown into one of the NBA’s biggest stars looking to lead his franchise to its first NBA championship.

Devin Armani Booker.

He’s here, he’s been here and now it’s time to win it all here in Phoenix.

Have opinion about current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Devin Booker, surrounded by stars, is still key to Phoenix Suns title hopes