New Suns Star Sends Strong Message About Devin Booker

Life changes fast in the NBA. This much became apparent in June when the Phoenix Suns agreed to trade Grayson Allen and Royce O'Neale to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for forward Miles Bridges. 

The trade was eventually completed last week, with Bridges being introduced on Wednesday afternoon to cap the saga off. There will be persistent questions about how Bridges' off-court past and on-court translation will reconcile in Phoenix, but one thing is for sure - the 2018 lottery pick has unmatched respect for franchise player Devin Booker.

Bridges' statement on his relationship with Booker couldn't have been any more complimentary, and Hayden Cilley of Clutch Points chronicled it. 

“As soon as I got in the league, he embraced me... I’ve always been a fan of Book. He’s always been a great player, one of the most underrated players in the league. I’m excited to play with him. I feel like if anyone deserves a ring, I think Book deserves the ring.” 

The inherent respect that Bridges has for Booker should translate well in the lane of on-court chemistry. Bridges brings explosive athleticism to the table, which should aid in Phoenix's years-long struggle with rim pressure - this in turn makes Booker's job easier as a playmaker. The other area that should trigger confidence in Phoenix fans is the Michigan State alum's commitment to playing a role in a title-winning squad centered around Booker. 

The Suns will not win an NBA championship in 2027, but the steps to get to that point are being taken at the moment, and Bridges being committed to evolving into a more impactful player should create an element of anticipation at the very least.

Phoenix head coach Jordan Ott will almost certainly include Bridges in his starting lineup throughout the season to come - rendering his on-court fit even more essential to the success of the Suns' season - however, the fit with Booker is the key to everything else.

If Bridges is able to increase rim pressure compared to last season, return to being a league-average three-point shooter, and be a viable team defender, it's entirely conceivable to see a world where the Suns are able to increase their win total of 45 from the 2025-26 season, although time will tell whether that becomes a reality or not.

Phoenix is set to open up training camp in late September.

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Kevin Hicks is a contributing writer to SunsRoundtable. He can be reached on X @khicks_21.