“He’s a Hall of Famer”: Kevin Durant Makes Big Claim About Devin Booker

On Jan. 5, Kevin Durant hit a 26-footer with 1.1 seconds left to beat the Suns 100-97, then told his old team to go home. Booker missed his final two looks that night. On Saturday, Devin Booker got his turn, and Kevin Durant was the one whose game-tying three-pointer missed in the final seconds.

Afterward, Durant had nothing negative to say about the player who beat him.

"He got loose, he got some screens," Durant said. "He was able to hit some tough one's too. He's just a great shot maker. That's what he does, that's what he gets paid for. That's why he's a hall of famer."

It was an unusually direct compliment from a player who has now spent two seasons on the other side of the Suns rivalry. Durant, who was traded to Houston in the summer of 2025 for Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green, had never lost in Phoenix since leaving. Saturday's 102-99 result ended an eight-game Suns losing streak against the Rockets and gave Phoenix back-to-back wins for the first time this season.

Booker's contribution came in the fourth quarter. He scored a game-high 24 points, including nine straight in the mid-fourth, to turn a tie into a seven-point Phoenix lead with 2:30 left. He snapped a 93-93 tie with a 17-footer, then added a step-back jumper, a three-pointer and a driving layup.

Durant did his part for Houston. He finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds and cut the deficit to three with a baseline leaner with 47 seconds left. His chance to tie came in the final seconds, but his three-pointer was short, and he finished 5-for-14 overall and 1-for-7 from three-point range.

Booker also reached a milestone on Saturday. He played in his 745th game with the franchise, passing Steve Nash for third place in Suns history. For a team that has had a long list of stars, that is a notable way to mark a Hall of Fame argument.

The result also carried extra meaning for Phoenix. Arizona Sports called it the Suns' best performance of the season and said they finally looked like themselves. It also came after Durant took a jab at the Suns' "culture" over the summer in response to a quote from owner Mat Ishbia, so there was some irony in a win built on contributions from across the roster.

There is also a quiet history behind the comment. Durant and Booker were teammates for two and a half seasons in Phoenix and played together on Team USA. Durant knows Booker’s game as well as anyone who has defended him, which gives the Hall of Fame label more weight than a casual compliment.

Booker has not yet been enshrined, and the label is Durant's opinion, but few players are better positioned to make it.

Phoenix started the season slowly. Durant’s praise was a bonus, but the result is what Phoenix will carry into its next game.