MACAU, CHINA – Devin Booker has seen every version of the Phoenix Suns since he was drafted in 2015. He’s lived through the lottery years, guided the franchise back to playoff relevance, reached the NBA Finals, and helped redefine the Suns’ identity as an enticing star player destination. Now, entering the 2025-26 NBA season, Booker stands at the center of yet another chapter – but one that’s less about contention and more about construction.

“I always say we’re all blessed to be in a position that we are — to play the sport that we love,” Booker told BasketballNews.com in a postgame interview after their game vs the Brooklyn Nets during the 2025 NBA China Games in Macau. “I just take it day by day, try to improve, try to learn, and give advice and lead at the same time. So, whatever situation that has been thrown at me, I just take it for what it is. I love the situation that we’re in now, and we’re building. We’re building for the start of the season, and today was a good step forward.”

It’s a fitting perspective for a player who’s evolved as much as the franchise itself. Booker entered the league as a 18-year-old microwave scorer and has since become the longest-tenured Sun, the team’s all-time leading scorer, and its emotional anchor. His growth mirrors the Suns’ decade-long climb – from rebuilding project to Finals contender to, once again, a team recalibrating its future.

From contender to transition

The Suns’ transformation over the past few months has been striking. After some seasons built around a star-heavy core of Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, Phoenix decided to reset. Durant was traded in a major offseason move, while Beal’s contract was bought out. The organization also brought in new leadership, hiring Brian Gregory as general manager and Jordan Ott as head coach.

Phoenix retooled its roster with an eye toward the future – adding dynamic young talents like Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks, while drafting rookie center Khaman Maluach. The changes signal a somewhat long-term vision rather than an all-in championship chase, but one thing remains constant: this is still Booker’s team.

This summer, that commitment became official. The Suns signed Booker to a two-year, $145 million extension, keeping him in Phoenix through 2030 – a statement of belief in his leadership and loyalty.

Embracing the responsibility

Booker’s tone in Macau wasn’t that of a superstar frustrated by change, but of someone embracing it. His focus, he said, is on growth – both his own and that of the group around him.

That attitude could define the Suns’ season. With a new system under Ott and a younger supporting cast, Phoenix will rely heavily on Booker’s leadership, consistency, and voice. He’s been through the highs and lows, from the grind of early rebuilds to the heartbreak of losing on the game’s biggest stage.

Now, his mission shifts: guiding the next wave of Suns through their own learning curve.

“I just take it day by day,” he repeated. “Try to improve, try to learn, and lead at the same time.”

Latest words for @basketbllnews:

Devin Booker has seen it all in Phoenix -- from rebuilding to Finals runs and now a new era.
In Macau for the NBA China Games, he shares how he’s embracing leadership and the challenges ahead.

Read more here:https://t.co/py55gbaa5o https://t.co/RyRqsO37QJ

— Mon Anthony Valmoria (@MorvalNBA) October 11, 2025

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The 2025 NBA China Games – the league’s first trip back to China in six years – provided the perfect stage for this new-look Suns team to show early signs of progress. Against the Brooklyn Nets, Phoenix displayed flashes of renewed energy and cohesion, with Booker setting the tone both on and off the floor.

For a franchise seeking to rebuild its foundation, the preseason trip offered something: a reminder that new beginnings often come with opportunity.

The regular season begins later this month, and expectations around the Suns are tempered. But for Booker, the focus isn’t on predicting where Phoenix will finish – it’s on building the right habits, fostering growth, and setting a standard for what’s next.

Through all the changes from front offices, teammates, and coaching staffs, Devin Booker has remained the constant. He’s carried the Suns from obscurity to contention, and now he’s steering them into a new era with patience and purpose.

If the Suns’ future depends on leadership and belief, they have both in their cornerstone. “Whatever situation that’s been thrown at me, I just take it for what it is,” Booker said. “I love the situation that we’re in now, and we’re building.”

In a time of transition, that’s exactly the kind of message Phoenix needs from their bonafide franchise star.