Exclusive: Chatting 1-on-1 with Devin Booker about NBA 2K, Kobe Bryant and more
Devin Booker is having himself quite a summer.
He just inked a four-year super max contract extension with the Phoenix Suns, he re-upped his partnership with Nike and landed on the cover of NBA 2K23. He joins Michael Jordan, Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird as the cover athletes for the latest installments of the iconic game.
The 25-year-old Booker earned All-NBA first-team honors in ’21-22, arguably his best season as a pro to date. Off the court, he collects cars and loves music, and sometimes rubs elbows with some of the world’s biggest celebrities. Simply put: Booker is a dynamic guy.
Rookie Wire caught up with Booker at the launch of NBA 2K23 in Las Vegas. Our Cameron Tabatabaie chatted with the three-time All-Star about the game, the NBA and much more.
This conversation has been lightly edited for clarity.
NBA 2K23
CT: First, congratulations on the big extension. You also extended with Nike, correct? Well-deserved. And, landed the cover of 2K.
How did this come together? I don’t know if you looked at the betting markets, but you were behind a couple of names on the list. How did this come together, walk us through it.
DB: It’s been quite some time. It’s not something they do quickly. We did the photoshoot during the season. Obviously for me, it’s a bucket list thing that I’ve always had. Honestly, the top of the bucket list.
Just having a connection with gaming and the game 2K, playing it my entire life. To grace the cover and to understand the magnitude of it and what comes with it is everything I signed up for.
CT: When you play the game, what two teams are you playing as? Obviously, the Suns are off the board.
DB: It usually varies, me and my buddies just randomly select. You do random three times and the opponent picks.
CT: Who invented that? I think it’s a universal rule.
DB: It’s good, though. It gets you playing with different teams, so people don’t just play with the heavy hitters. It shows real skill.
CT: Do you remember the first time you were in a video game?
I mean, growing up, I always created a player. I’ve done that for a while. Thinking back to all the way NCAA football, I used to create a left-handed quarterback.
CT: Did you play football growing up? Were you good?
DB: I did. Very good. Very good.
And, you know, playing 2K creating my own player. And then they started the whole MyPark thing, it just amplified everything. I’ve always created a player, and then my rookie year was the first time face scans got in the game. I remember it was summer league and they got our face scans. It was a big moment for me.
CT: Did you wear that suit with all the balls?
DB: No, I didn’t do that until recently with the cover and everything. I went after it, I got a good stretch in before.
I made a complaint to 2K about my player before and his movements and how he moved. But now I think in ’23 he’s gonna be a lot better.
CT: Talk me through sharing this honor with Diana Taurasi, Sue Bird and Michael Jordan. Have you worked with them previously, and what does it mean to share the cover with them?
DB: I haven’t worked with them in the past, but I’ve been around (Taurasi) for a while in Phoenix and have the utmost respect for her. I call her the GOAT. Michael Jordan the same, and I feel the same way about Sue Bird. Just to be mentioned with those names and share this moment together is unbelievable.
CT: I saw on Twitter you were saying the cover art might be the best of all time. Do you stand by that?
DB: It’s the first time they did a proper photoshoot for it. Looking back at the covers, usually, they just grab a photo off of Getty Images and put the art behind it.
So it’s really groundbreaking what we did, and I think moving forward they’ll do that every time now. Just the color scheme, including Phoenix, it’s fire.
CT: Looking ahead, who do you think makes the cover next year? Who’s your early favorite for 2K24?
DB: I would say either (Jayson) Tatum or (Ja) Morant.
Around the NBA
CT: Tell me about Monty Williams. What does he mean for the Suns?
DB: He means everything. He’s a real one. He’s one of those people that when you’re talking to him, he looks you directly in your eyes, and you feel everything that he said.
It’s much bigger than just a sport of basketball. He likes to develop personal relationships and all the basketball stuff is a bonus. We just share a common interest or common love for the game. He really genuinely cares about how you’re doing, and how you are in your day-to-day life.
CT: Similarly, what’s your relationship with Chris Paul like and how has he changed your game?
DB: Our relationship is always growing. We’ve both been CAA clients for a long time.
He kinda helped me, D’Angelo (Russell), and Karl (Anthony Towns). We were working out before, like pre-draft stuff, and CP would show up to our workouts. He just has always been a mentor, somebody you can reach out to. Obviously, being the president of the NBPA for a long time, he understands the business. So he just gives you so many different perspectives. And he’s seen so many different things. He is a great person.
And on the court, we just took it to new heights. We always say, ‘iron sharpens iron.’ That’s how our relationship’s been, just seen as his work ethic. Seeing his drive and everything that goes into what makes him a first ballot Hall of Famer.
CT: Did you change your diet?
DB: I’m not a vegan, he didn’t get me. Half the team’s vegan and half the coaches are too because of Chris. I usually eat clean.
CT: Who’s the best booray player on the Suns?
DB: I’d have to go with myself.
CT: OK, who’s the second best? Who brought it to the Suns?
DB: I can’t answer that, you’ve gotta be in booray game to answer that.
I’ve been playing since my rookie year. So, PJ Tucker, Jared Dudley, Eric Bledsoe. That was my first real booray game.
CT: We’re here in Vegas, what do you remember about your first trip to summer league?
DB: Just trying to prove myself, and I had a few good games throughout. That was just the first time NBA action so I just wanted to go out there and prove I wasn’t a soft light-skinned kid.
CT: I host the Celtics Lab Podcast, and I’m going to ask you about Boston, selfishly. So early in the season you handled the Celtics pretty easily but then they got the better of you on New Year’s Eve, right around when they were kind of turning the heat up.
Tell me a little bit about the Celtics’ defense.
DB: They’re versatile. They have great length. They have the ability to switch 1-5 and guard multiple positions. I think Robert Williams helps out a lot around the rim, altering shots. Any team that can switch 1-5, your big isn’t a mismatch on a quicker guard. That’s important.
CT: In Boston, when they weren’t playing well, people wanted to break up Tatum and (Jaylen) Brown. Why do you think fans today are so quick to count out certain players or certain teams?
DB: It’s just the nature of the game, the nature of social media and the nature of just self hate. It’s on full display, but that’s the beauty of sport at the end of the day, and everything that comes with it. We’re not out there to prove anybody wrong, but that sort of stuff happens.
"No Comment"
CT: I’m calling this this section, “no comment.” I’m going to ask questions that are perhaps a bit thornier, and if you want to say “no comment,” you say “no comment.”
First question: I did a little research, and there’s a little bit of buzz. Devin Booker, what is the status of your love life?
DB: No comment. (Note: Booker answered this question and all of these with a big smile.)
CT: Oh, so you’ve played this game before?
DB: Yeah, I’m good at this.
CT: OK, who loves Kobe Bryant more, you or Jayson Tatum?
DB: We both love him a lot. The thing about that, I’ll elaborate on that. I see (Tatum) getting hate just representing Kobe and being inspired by him. But Kobe always said his one job is to inspire the next generation — that’s what he’s done for us.
He is gonna live forever in this game and not even just in basketball. Just his approach to life and how he’s changed and shaped so many people. I think it’s foolish for people to give hate to somebody like me or Jayson representing one of our idols.
CT: Draymond Green recently defended Kevin Durant on his podcast, and defended his trade request. He explained that players are businesses and businessmen, not just athletes. What is the balance between player empowerment and loyalty, as someone who just re-upped with their franchise?
DB: No comment.
CT: What’s your relationship with Kevin Durant like?
DB: We’re Olympic gold medal teammates. That was a big moment for us. Mutual respect, 100 respect.
CT: My last question: What kind of car are you going to buy next? Will you stick with Chevy?
DB: Yeah, everything’s Chevy that I have. Probably a ’57 Bel Air. I have the ’58 and the ’59 right now, so I want the trifecta.
