Phoenix Suns insider breaks down Bradley Beal contract buyout
The Suns bought out guard Bradley Beal’s contract, ending his time in Phoenix. The Republic’s Duane Rankin explains what it means for the team.
Devin Booker’s No. 1 really sticks out on Bootleg Kev’s podcast wall.
Among posters of hip-hop and wrestling royalty hangs a framed autographed white Booker jersey.
That’s his guy.
“I just love Book’s attitude towards the game,” Bootleg Kev said. “He’s got that killer in him that MJ & Kobe had and I am just glad we have him on our team.”
The Arizona Republic spoke one-on-one with Bootleg Kev, whose Bootleg Kev Podcast has hosted some of hip hop’s top stars, about his hometown Suns, Steve Nash, what went wrong with the Big 3 of Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, and Booker, the NBA, and much more.
Phoenix born
Name: Kevin Ratliff
Age: 38.
Hometown: Phoenix (Born in Good Samaritan Hospital). Currently lives in Los Angeles.
Podcast name: The Bootleg Kev Podcast (established 2020).
Instagram followers: 147K.
YouTube subscribers: 480K.
Radio experience: More than 20 years.
Bron the GOAT over MJ
Top 5 NBA players of all-time (in order): LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson and Tim Duncan.
Top 5 favorite NBA players: James, Booker, Nash, Jordan and Kyrie Irving.
Best NBA player today: Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic.
“I think it’s Jokic, and I don’t think it’s close,” Bootleg Kev said. “His feel and understanding for the game is unmatched and no one in the NBA makes their teammates better more than him.”
All-time starting five of MCs: PG: Jay-Z, SG: Kendrick Lamar, SF: Freddie Gibbs, PF: Ghostface Killah, C: Biggie.
Best podcast interviews: Snoop, NBA Youngboy, Clipse, Ghostface Killah, Jelly Roll, Kevin Gates and Freddie Gibbs.
“The guy I have the most fun with on my pod is That Mexican OT,” Bootleg Kev said.
Chance The Rapper was recently on the podcast that was nominated for Best Hip-Hop platform on the 2024 BET Awards. The Bootleg Kev Podcast has reached 500 episodes.
2007 playoffs loss to Spurs forever haunting
Becoming a Suns fan: “When Jordan retired the second time. I grew up as a kid rooting for Jordan and the (Chicago) Bulls, but always also being very into whatever the Suns had going on.”
First Suns game attended: “I saw the Suns play the (Dallas Mavericks) in a preseason game that my dentist gave us tickets to. It was right when Mark Cuban first bought the Mavs. This was the Suns team that had George McCloud and Luc Longley on it. Random players to remember, I know.”
The Mavs played the Suns in a 2000 preseason game in Phoenix on Oct. 13. McCloud and Longley were on the 1998-99 team.
7 seconds or less: “I love everything about those teams except for how cheap (Robert) Sarver was. I’ll forever think about all the ‘what ifs’ from that era. What if we paid Joe Johnson? What if Amar’e and (Boris) Diaw stayed on the bench (against the San Antonio Spurs in the 2007 playoffs)? What if we drafted Steph Curry? What if Tim Duncan didn’t haunt me in my dreams to this day?”
Who wins a seven-game playoff series – Suns 2007 squad or 2021 Suns team that went to the finals with Booker and Chris Paul?: “This is a tough one, but I feel like the 2021 team would win. I think defensively, they were better and CP3 in the clutch in 2021 was just something different. I also am not sure who would guard Book? Maybe Marion? It would go seven games for sure, though.”
Booker future podcast guest
Much love for Booker: “I just love Book’s attitude towards the game. He’s got that killer in him that MJ and Kobe (Bryant) had and I am just glad we have him on our team. First time I met Book was at a Snoop Dogg charity event in Los Angeles, had to be 2018 or so. Met him a few times since then and he’s always super solid.”
How you got the Booker autographed jersey: “To be honest, I bought it off of OfferUp. I wanted an autographed Book jersey to hang on my podcast set, and I didn’t have one (despite owning over 100 Suns jerseys myself), so I looked around and found one in Vegas and bought it.”
Had Booker on the show?: “No, NOT YET.”
Any guests react to the Booker jersey: “Recently, a new artist named Trap Dickey tripped out on it, he’s from South Carolina originally, but grew up randomly a Suns fan. I also gifted him a Steve Nash toy.”
Thoughts on Big 3, Ishbia and Suns future
Why didn’t the Booker-Durant-Beal Suns work: “I’m the only Suns fan I know who HATED this (Beal) trade (at the time of the trade in summer of 2023). I also hated the Deandre Ayton trade. But Bradley Beal couldn’t stay on the court and if we’re being honest, you can’t expect two shooting guards plus Kevin Durant to work. Not enough shots to go around. That no-trade clause KILLED us, too. One would almost think it would be crazy to try to do the whole two shooting guard thing again, huh? I’m sure Book can’t wait to play more point guard this year with (Jalen) Green.”
Thoughts on Suns team owner Mat Ishbia: “He’s doing a good job of playing NBA2K with the team, but hey, our hot dogs are $2. No, all jokes aside, I appreciate Mat’s willingness to spend money and his approach to putting the fans first. Every GM would have done that KD trade. It’s the Beal one that will haunt him, but I’m glad he’s our owner, I think he means well and has a true intent to bring a title to AZ no matter what.”
W-L prediction for Suns this 2025-26 season: 30-52.
How Suns can return to competing for a championship: “Pray to God that the (Khaman) Maluach kid from Duke is the second coming of Christ.”
Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.
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