Devin Booker dropped some surprising news earlier this week, as it was revealed he will be changing from number one to 15 next season to honor his father Melvin.
The elder Booker wearing the number during four years with Missouri, although it is not hard to imagine the 29-year-old having his idol Kobe Bryant in mind when making the decision. Which brings it a very important future question for the Suns.
Will Phoenix be forced to retire two numbers for Booker down the road?
The Los Angeles Lakers retired both of the late Bryant's numbers (8 and 24), in a move that felt fitting and correct. He led that organization to five championships, costing the Suns in the process but that is a scar best left untouched.
The Valley was surely going to retire Booker's number one no matter what, as despite never leading them to the promised land he is likely to go down in the best player in franchise history when all is said and done. He's not going anywhere by the looks of things either, as only an ugly split would stop number one from going in the rafters.
But what to do with 15? Impact on a team and a city should not come down to championships won. Patrick Ewing is beloved in New York while Philadelphia still belongs to Allen Iverson. If Booker remains in Phoenix the rest of his career and never wins, does 15 also have to be retired?
If he can get over the line that is a different story, and the night both numbers go in the rafters would be a massive celebration. But Booker is likely past the halfway point of his career, certainly from an elite output perspective.
So if his time in 15 consists of coming down from his peak, early playoff exits and eventually coming off the bench before calling it a career, it is hard to make the argument the number should be retired. The other side of the argument is that this is Devin Booker we're talking about, the franchise.
He has stayed loyal to Phoenix, never asking out despite the ups and downs while spending so much of his time there even during the offseason. He has brought us so many amazing moments, and the best could be yet to come. So yes he should have two numbers retired like Kobe Bryant when the time comes.
Right?
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