Devin Booker ready to seize playoff stage with Suns after six-year wait

He's waited six years for this singular moment.

The home crowd is screaming and roaring. The music is thumping and pumping.

He's making his traditional walk along the sideline, points to the sky and finds his position at center court inside a rocking Phoenix Suns Arena.

The playoffs are no longer a wishful dream for Devin Booker.

They are finally a confirmed reality.

"It's been a long journey since I've been here. A full six years to get to this point and I know it's been even longer for the city of Phoenix and this organization to get to this point. So I don't want to take these opportunities for granted. We gave the fans what they wanted with a playoff berth, and now we want to give them even more of what they asked for."

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He's bringing his family, his supporters and naysayers to the court.

He's bringing years of frustration from losing season after losing season.

He's bringing the fans who have stood by him from Day 1, win or lose.

He's bringing the Mamba mentality Kobe Bryant blessed him with in challenging him to "be legendary."

Healthy and hungry, Booker is so ready to get these playoffs started.

His teammates know how much it means to him.

"He's finally getting to play some meaningful basketball. A chance to play for the Larry O'Brien Trophy. That's what it's all about. He's done a good job of staying the course over the years and now it's paying off for him and the organization," said Jae Crowder. "It's great to see him get to where he needs to be and that's an elite talent playing for it all. That's an elite talent playing at the highest level of basketball that there is to play. I'm happy for him, I'm with it and I'm ready to get going with him."

His first postseason challenge is as tough and as real as it gets: The Los Angeles Lakers. The defending NBA champions in Game 1 of the NBA playoffs Sunday.

LeBron James. This generation's GOAT.

Anthony Davis. Arguably the league's best big man.

The mighty Lakers immediately stand in the way of Booker making his first playoff run a deep one.

"They're one of the biggest teams we're going to play against," Suns coach Monty Williams said. "Not only that, they have maybe the greatest athlete we've ever seen in sports who has a high IQ and continues to defy the odds as it relates to longevity and athleticism. All the stuff that we talk about and another Hall of Fame player in Anthony. We know who they are. We respect what they've done. They're the defending champs."

Booker will either come out on fire hitting everything or misfiring with an expected case of the jitters.

Emotions will be high. They're supposed to be.

He's gone from being drafted 13th overall in 2015 as a piece to the Phoenix puzzle to becoming the centerpiece of a team that has the second-best record in the league.

The Valley welcomed him with open arms and rode with him through the countless defeats, the 70-point night in Boston, the injuries, long-overdue All-Star nod and MVP chants.

Now their No. 1 finally has the Suns back in the playoffs after an 11-year drought.

"The son of the Valley. I know every real Suns fan is really happy for my boy. Seeing the type of work Book was putting in my rookie year, and even watching him before I got here," said big man Deandre Ayton. "Seeing the type of success and individual accolades and recognition he's finally getting, it's a great feeling, man. Just seeing how much work he put in and how he really respects the game."

The Suns went from trying to build a team around him to establishing a culture he and his teammates can embrace, live by and grow within.

No more rebuilds with just young players. Acquire veterans with professionalism.

They hired Williams, who loves, praises, empowers and challenges him.

They drafted and developed Ayton, Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson.

They signed Crowder and finally got serious about their need at point guard by trading for one of the all-time greats at that position.

"I came here because of Book. You know what I mean? Don't make any mistake about that. I came to Phoenix because of Book and it's because of who Book is, the way that he plays and the way he channels his energy," said Chris Paul, who came to Phoenix from Oklahoma City in a blockbuster deal.

Booker is closer to his teammates than ever before.

Playing big-chip card games with Paul, Crowder and Torrey Craig while flying 30,000 feet to and from games.

He's had the team over to the house to hang out.

He cheers for his teammates at a different level now.

The one with incredible individual talent is truly a team player.

"You look around the league at some teams, and not everybody has a vibe like this or an energy like this throughout. I always say it’s a great environment to get better in," Booker said.

He's more grown up at age 24. No longer 18 years old in a grown man's league.

Immaturity has run its course. True professionalism has kicked in.

He's taking better care of his body. Improved his diet.

His former teammates have noticed the change for the better.

"The biggest thing is maturity. You look at his body. Devin Booker is lean. You can tell the way that he's eating, the way he's carrying himself. He's a pro now. He wasn't a pro when he first came in. He just made it to the NBA. It's different. He had to go through his fun, hanging out, who are his friends, what he's doing off the court," said former Suns teammate and current Lakers forward Jared Dudley.

"Now you see he's kind of in a relationship. He's locked in. He keeps more to himself. He's not out like he used to be. He's just more mature. The biggest thing about his maturity, you can tell by his body. That man, I told him, and he looked good. He's like, 'Man, I'm locked in.' You can tell and I'm happy for him."

He has earned the respect of his peers and now inspires the newcomers.

Made believers out of those who questioned and doubted him.

His game-winner over the Kawhi Leonard and Paul George of the Clippers burst the bubble on the notion he can't handle double-teams.

He still plays with a chip that can boil all over the referees.

His struggle has been real, but one that's shaped him into the player who has Phoenix back where it belongs.

"I'm enjoying the journey, I'm enjoying the process. Always remember what it was in the past and that's motivation to keep going and having fun with it."

Now the time has come for him to start writing a new chapter titled, "Playoffs."

He'll have highs and lows, splash 3s and commit turnovers.

He'll make great plays and untimely mistakes, smile after a priceless moment, scream at a ref and scowl after an "And-1."

He's about to find out why the playoffs are different than the regular season.

Devin Booker is finally at center court ready to play in the biggest game of his life on Sunday — until Game 2 Tuesday.

"I'm grateful for the opportunity. It's what I've been waiting on," he said. "It's what we've been talking about. We've put a lot of extreme work into it to get to this point. It's an exciting time."

Follow Duane Rankin on Twitter @DuaneRankin.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: NBA playoffs: Devin Booker ready for his moment after six-year wait