The Phoenix Suns are all-in on chasing their first franchise title after making multiple blockbuster moves the past calendar year.
Phoenix traded away all its draft capital and assets to bring in stars like Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal to flank Devin Booker.
So far, the move has paid dividends as the Suns are right in the thick of the postseason race and one of the teams that no one wants to see in the first round.
This year’s team is hoping to make good on its promise of a championship, though the franchise has been close before.
Back in the 2000s, Phoenix was one of the most exciting teams in the league and former star Amar’e Stoudemire had a lot to do with it.
Stoudemire is set to be inducted into Phoenix’s Ring of Honor and Booker opened up about his relationship with him, via the team’s official Twitter account.
“I developed a relationship with him as soon as I got here even though he was living on the East Coast,” Booker said. “He is somebody that would keep in contact with me even on random games that you think nobody’s watching. And when we were getting our head beat in every night, he’d still text me, ‘Keep goin’ youngin.’”
“Somebody that’s much deserving for it. He’s a fan favorite in the Valley for obvious reasons. The team hasn’t seen anything like him since.” – @DevinBook
🗣️ Book on his relationship with @Amareisreal and what this means to him ahead of S.T.A.T.’s Ring of Honor induction. pic.twitter.com/19IQzFpcO9
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) March 2, 2024
Booker sounds like he has a lot of respect and admiration for Stoudemire who was a key cog in those “Seven Seconds or Less” Suns teams.
Stoudemire was one of the most athletic and dominant players at his position during his prime and it’s good to see that the Phoenix organization is doing right by him.
NEXT:
Royce O’Neale Reveals How He Found Out He Was Traded
