To watch Devin Booker at the Phoenix Suns' 2024-25 media day was to see a superstar in complete control of his surroundings. Entering his 10th season with the organization that drafted him - and making us all feel old in the process - Booker's comfort level was clear for all to see.
He knows most of the media who asked him questions while he was on the podium, and his interactions with everybody from Kevin Durant to new guys like Tyus Jones had the established and welcoming feel that the Suns will need to lean on to erase the bad memories of how last season ended.
Booker even had jokes for new head coach Mike Budenholzer.
Arizona native Budenholzer is the new man in charge this season, and much is expected of what he'll be able to bring to the franchise. At his own media availability, he spoke about wanting Jusuf Nurkic to shoot more 3-pointers this coming season, to the surprise of many.
That is just one way coach Bud is going to try and give the offensive schemes some juice - a new role for Grayson Allen will surely be another - but ultimately it will be on Booker, Durant and Bradley Beal to lead the charge. We already know what wer're going to get from the first two guys, while the introduction of Jones as floor general has Beal believing it will help him get back to his best.
The relationship Booker and Budenholzer have will be crucial in established a rhythm early, not that there is a particularly high bar to clear. Previous leading man Frank Vogel didn't do anything wrong in his one season in charge, but there was a very businessman like attitude to his tenure. A real not work friends - but colleagues - feel to how he dealt with Booker, Durant and everybody else.
Bradley Beal swats off Vogel’s high five and then proceeds to normally high five the bench pic.twitter.com/4CRjbUjvUq
— 5 Fouls Book (@PrimeDBook) April 29, 2024
Already the relationship between Booker and coach Bud seems to be off to a better start, and it was on full display during one of Booker's many interviews at media day. When asked what his initial conversation with Budenholzer after he got the job was like, Booker's deadpan reply of "I told him he owes me a ring" was absolutely hilarious.
Booker is of course alluding to the 2021 NBA Finals - when Budenholzer's Milwaukee Bucks beat the Suns in six games and came back from a 2-0 hole to do so - so there's shared history between the two. Booker could yet turn to Hollywood with his comedic timing, because his serious delivery was held for just a moment, before he broke into that well-known smile and deep laugh.
It is clear coach Budenholzer is going to bring a different energy - his own fielding of questions from the media was done in its own, charming way - although one area that is being slept on is the defensive end of the court. The Suns ranked an impressive 12th (113.7) in this category last season, and the best could be yet to come.
Budenholzer is going to help elevate the scoring of this group - having point guards in Jones and Monte Morris who take care of the basketball certainly helps - but on the other end if he holds Booker and Durant accountable, this team are going to catch a lot of people out. Booker's media day answer proving coach and star player are off to the best possible start together.