Phoenix Suns Star Devin Booker Bringing Rising Star Along Ropes

Phoenix Suns megastar Devin Booker has become a pillar of the NBA world over the last decade-plus. 

Booker is entering his 12th season as a player that those coming up in the league look up to - this isn't any different in a development that surfaced on Thursday. 

Booker and teammate Jalen Green were seen working on the court with New Orleans Pelicans' rising star Jeremiah Fears in Phoenix on Thursday.

This development might be a trivial one at the mantle of everything, but it exposes several truths about how Booker operates as a player, as well as the direction the Suns are shifting.

First off, Booker is a player that is seemingly glad to work with players of different experience levels, backgrounds, and stages of development. This points to confirming the narrative that Booker is a star that is easy to play alongside. This is exactly why stars such as point guard Tyrese Haliburton are so vocal on their past desires to play alongside the five-time All-Star. 

Beyond Booker is an even more expansive tie-in that is directly related to the proverbial shift that the Suns organization is making.

While Phoenix remains steadfast in committing to winning under franchise governor Mat Ishbia, the philosophy to get back to contention might be shifting before our eyes.

The Suns' organization is rapidly becoming more open to welcoming a youth movement in the city, especially in the last year since Jordan Ott was named head coach of the franchise.

This includes the ushering in of center Khaman Maluach, wing Rasheer Fleming, and forward Koa Peat over the past two drafts. It also entails further committing to third-year standouts in C/F Oso Ighodaro and Virginia product Ryan Dunn. 

The Suns' youth movement was nearly non-existent just two years ago, but shifty maneuvering from Gregory and some exceptional coaching staff hirings by Ott have shifted the narrative in a relatively short amount of time. 

It's no secret that Phoenix is banking on internal improvement, and Booker training with players that are peers of Maluach is a positive sign that the organization is truly aligned at all levels - from management, to ownership, to coaching staff, to the 15-man roster.

Phoenix's new-look experiment will begin preparations for the 2026-27 season in late September, before opening up preseason play on the road against the defending one-seed in the Eastern Conference in the Detroit Pistons on October 5