Will Devin Booker Follow in the Footsteps of a Fellow Phoenix Legend?

Devin Booker has been a pillar of the Phoenix Suns - and the state of Arizona - since being drafted by the organization in 2015. 

Part of being a pillar of the city has been the fact that the star shooting guard genuinely rallies around the fellow local teams, including the Arizona Cardinals. 

This came to a full-on head over the weekend when Booker made a trip to Canton, Ohio to support Cardinals legend Larry Fitzgerald, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday.

This is a fascinating case, as Booker credited Fitzgerald with embracing him and showing him the ways of being a pro athlete in the early days of his NBA career. The result has been a positive one, as Booker has approached the professional lifestyle in a way that is quite similar to Fitzgerald. 

The relationship continued when Fitzgerald purchased a minority stake of ownership in the Suns in January of 2020, which is something the NFL legend took great pride in. Fitzgerald eventually sold his remaining stakes, but the two stay connected despite this. 

Perhaps the most interesting parallel that can be drawn from this joyous moment is if Fitzgerald's second-half career arc will extend to how Booker approaches the change in jersey number that seems to serve as the transition from first to second half of his exceptional career in Phoenix.

Fitzgerald adjusted his game to face the progression of his career despite remaining a highly productive player - will Booker do the same?

It seems as if the 11th-year shooting guard has already undergone something of an evolution over the last two seasons, as he has made sizable leaps as a playmaker while regressing as a scorer in some pointed areas. Is Booker's evolution going to be doubling down on the playmaker mantra, or is it going to be to returning to his roots as a historic scoring threat that became a viable playmaker as a result?

The truth likely lies somewhere in the middle, as Booker is just a couple of minor tweaks away from returning to the scorer he was two years ago, but it's difficult to see a world where he completely abandons his rise as a playmaker. 

The future of the organization hinges on how Booker responds to this crucial moment, but franchise governor Mat Ishbia has already made it clear how the organization views the Hall of Fame talent.