Devin Booker Practice Media Availability | Phoenix Suns

Devin Booker Practice Media Availability | Phoenix Suns | 10-30-25

Happy birthday. Appreciate that. Just looking at the game overall. I think a better start um than what we’ve been getting which was a point of emphasis for us. Um but still got to clean up a lot of things. Transition defense sticks out. um rebounding and you know just those compound mistakes that we make that you know take us from a good spot in the game to you know having us fight our way back. Yeah. Uh it’s four quarters for a reason just keep going. um missed a few I I felt I could have made in the first half, but um I think as a game there wasn’t many free throws. I don’t think the first free throw came till halfway through the third. So, you know, still just trying to remain aggressive, you know, through through whatever’s going on. Last look, obviously, you don’t have a timeout, so you got to make something happen. Were you even thinking maybe drive down? Uh, it was two different possessions. You know, looking back, I I probably should. I think mid-range worked for me probably three possessions before. Um, so could have got back to that, but you know, you live and you learn. You know, I think the second one, the last one, you know, was an inch or two from going in, but you know, the possession before I could have been better. You’ve obviously hit a lot of deep shot game winners in your career. What’s the What’s the process like as the clock’s ticking down and you’re dribbling down? How are you making up your mind on on what you want to do there? Uh I mean no timeout in that situation was a little different. Um um you know just just reading the defense. Um got to know the time a little bit better. I think when I pulled up there’s two seconds left which means I could have got a couple more dribbles towards the towards the hoop. Um, but in that situation, they’re usually not going to call a foul, you know, so probably get to the nitty versus getting all the way to the rim. You kind of made a beline right off the court after that. What do you What were you feeling in that moment? Uh, I mean, just defeat, you know, want to win every game. Um, our last two have been, you know, super close. Could have went either way. Um, you know, so three and two sounds a lot better than one and four. But, you know, we got to keep building. at the end of the game. Is that part of your thinking since then? Yeah, I mean it’s just a read. I mean I think last year Milwaukee gamewinner is a good example of getting downhill and then separating before you get to the rim. Um, you know, so I’ve been in that situation. New York happened to be a long three. Um, you know, so I said I, you know, I trust myself in that situation and, you know, I just have to live with the result. You look at Royce, uh, he hit those threes to tie the game up twice. Just how much of a consistent player is he for you guys? Yeah, he he’s been knocking down shots. He’s been competing on the defensive end. And you know, he’s been that transporter position where if he doesn’t have a shot, he gets to the next action really quick, which has been really good for us. The possession that gave you a lead down the stretch was Mark using his hand to get a strip still down underneath the basket. Just did you know his hands are this good on both sides of the ball? No, I wasn’t, you know, I wasn’t too familiar. Um, I know when the trade didn’t go through last year to LA, I watched a little bit of film on him, but you know, seeing it up close and personal, man, he he’s a true talent and we’ve seen glimpse of glimpse of it already and, you know, I think he’s still on restriction, so I think it’s only up from here. Looking ahead to the games coming up with Jaylen’s debut right around the corner. What can you tell me about the twoman game you guys have and what you anticipate out of that partnership? Uh, it’s something that we’re going to have to develop, you know, so I think, you know, with him being healthy, the he gets out here the better. So, you know, we can, you know, work through work through some things. Hopefully, it’s hit the ground running. Um, I think having a threat like him on the court, it’s going to be beneficial for everybody. You’ve been one of the best in the last seven, eight years in the first quarter specifically. Those numbers haven’t been there this year. Is there something you attribute that to? Um, just getting acquainted. You know, it’s a it’s another new system. You know, we’re five games in. Um, still trying to figure out each other spacing. Um, yeah. So, and just making shots, you know, like I said, I feel like I had some good ones in the first quarter that, you know, just didn’t go down. Is turnovers for you more. Is that decision making or spacing right now for you? I say decision making more in spacing. You know, if you got a possession, I mean, control the ball a lot better um than what I’m doing. And, you know, as a team also, I think we had 20 of them last night. And you know, the live ball turnover is one that hurts when you know they get a transition bucket on the other end. Is that something you expect to get better once Jaylen gets back or are you looking at it like Jaylen’s not out there? Like I got to be better anyway. Yeah, I got to be better anyway. Um but both, you know, having, you know, another handler out there that, you know, will cause a lot of attention, you know, will take a lot of pressure off everybody. We talked a lot about the kind of usage and ways that Jordan is using you. Feels like you’re starting from the baseline a little bit more kind of using vertical or down screens. How are you seeing the way you see the game? The way you can kind of tilt the defense off of down versus kind of the horizontal screens. Yeah. Um, you know, I think when you’re just when I’m handling, I’m at the top of the key. You know, you have, you know, you have all eyes on you. So, anything where I can get, you know, beneath the defense and, you know, catch him off guard even for a split second to create some space will help. With the way Colin was creating, how much does that help to have like another downhill threat where like he can isolate and score? Yeah, it helps a lot. You play as far as playm games like smallsided three on three or two on two just as like sharpen read like is that part of the growth with the playmaking part? You said two on two or three up there. Uh, it’s tough because, you know, most reads, you know, include five people. Um, you know, I’ve pretty much seen every coverage. It’s just, you know, figuring out the spacing and the timing for all of us on the backside. Colin has talked about how you’ve kind of just kind of been in his ear last couple years about just staying aggressive, you know, especially in the minutes that he has to keep those lineups a float when you’re off the court. Just how would you assess that he’s done so far this year? He’s been doing incredible and, you know, it hasn’t surprised any of us. He’s maintained this through all the training camp and from the start of the season. So, um, you know, he he’s been great. He’s a pleasure to be on the court with and, you know, at the end of the day, he’s a ultimate competitor. Enjoy your day.

Devin Booker speaks with media following practice on October 30th, 2025. The Phoenix Suns’ next game is on October 31st, 2025 vs the Utah Jazz.

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