Devin Booker discusses his excitement for his new Book 2 shoes
Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker tells all about his new Nike Book 2 shoes and the excitement he has for them and other players wearing them.
Duane Rankin and Diana Payan/The Republic
Stephen Curry and Devin Booker have a strong friendship that developed while playing together on Team USA.Curry recently wore Booker’s signature Nike Book 1s in a game against the Suns, a gesture Booker deeply appreciated.
The connection Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry has with Phoenix Suns star guard Devin Booker goes beyond wearing his Book 1s signature shoes in last week’s Dec. 18 game at Mortgage Matchup Center.
That’s just the latest layer of their friendship.
Curry and Booker have competed against each other in the NBA for years, earning mutual respect. They won Olympic gold last year in Paris together as Team USA’s starting backcourt.
“With Book, it goes without saying, I respect everything that he does and what he’s done in his career,” Curry told The Arizona Republic after Golden State’s 119-116 victory in the teams’ Dec. 20 rematch at Chase Center. “To have that opportunity, I didn’t realize it would mean that much to him.”
It meant everything and more to Booker.
“We play them next game.”
Devin Booker when asked about Steph Curry wearing Book 1s, autographing them and scoring just 15 points in Suns win over Warriors.
Meet again Saturday in San Fran.
On Curry wearing his signature shoe: “It’s truly hard to put into words. Thinking back… pic.twitter.com/qqus9MYs1o
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) December 19, 2025
“It’s truly hard to put into words,” Booker said after the Suns beat the Warriors, 99-98, at home Dec. 18.
Booker proudly placed the “Chevy” Book 1s Curry signed for him on the postgame interview table.
“Thinking back to the Olympics and being able to share the floor with him and not just the floor, but getting to know each other off the court, too,” Booker said. “Building a relationship that will last a lifetime with somebody I idolized my whole life.
“So, for it to come full circle and him to be competing against me in my shoe, if anything, I thought it’d be the other way around. Crazy.”
Curry might soon become sneaker brothers with Booker, who said he’s been recruiting Curry to rejoin Nike.
“Oh 100%,” Booker said. “Whoever gets him, that’s a global icon with fan bases all over, and I saw that this summer. We know how popular Steph is and has always been.”
Curry started his NBA career on a four-year deal with Nike.
He then signed with Under Armour in 2013 and took the company to unprecedented heights in his journey to becoming the greatest shooter ever, a four-time NBA champion and two-time MVP, but the two sides are parting ways.
Houston Rockets superstar Kevin Durant and Booker contacted Curry on Nike’s behalf. Durant has been teammates with Booker and Curry in the NBA and the Olympics.
“I don’t know who (Booker has) called on his side and all that, but the idea of, I’m already tapped into Portland (Oregon) and seeing what’s going on,” Curry told The Republic. “Hopefully we’ll keep conversations going, but it is nice, him and KD especially have hit me and reached out.
“Book understands this moment, how I grew up and the shoes I was wearing the first four years of my career. Hopefully, they put in a good word.”
The rumored talk on social media of a potential seven-year, $780 million colossal deal between Curry and Nike has the sneaker world tilting on its axis, but Curry is currently a free agent and has been testing out the signature shoes of his NBA brethren this season.
“The season, free agency, I was just enjoying to the fullest,” Curry said. “Enjoying the moment to show love to the people that mean a lot to me, budding relationships that we’ve had over the last couple of years, especially the Olympics. People that you respect.”
“He’s a sneaker free agent right now. He and Under Armour had parted ways. He’s going on a journey right now.”
Devin Booker on Steph Curry wearing Book 1s in Suns win vs Warriors.
“He actually reached out to me 1st. I was going to reach out to him.”
On recruiting Curry to… pic.twitter.com/fFKB4VQ7U8
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) December 19, 2025
Curry has worn the sneakers of his “Olympic brothers” Anthony Edwards (Adidas), Tyrese Haliburton (Puma) and Booker (Nike).
He’s sported Warriors teammates Jimmy Butler’s Li-Ning, and has rocked “some Kobes and a bunch of guys from some other eras.”
“He’s going on a journey right now,” Booker said. “Right when him and Under Armour parted ways, he actually reached out to me first. I was going to reach out to him before he did that. I sent him a pack of a bunch of shoes I felt went good with their jerseys, and he sent me a message that they’re comfortable and that he’ll be wearing them in Phoenix.”
Curry initially looked to wear the Book 1s on Dec. 14 at Portland.
“When I called him and asked him for some, he sent me four pairs, walked me through all the colorway stories,” Curry said. “After I tried them out in practice, I told him I liked them and I probably was going to wear them. I thought I was going to wear them the game before, but I said, ‘Nah, I’ll just wait until Phoenix,’ and it all worked out.”
Curry wore the “Chevy” Book 1s during his pregame workout at Mortgage Matchup Center.
The same ones were later autographed for Booker.
Curry then switched to “What The” Book 1s for the game with every intention of defeating Booker in his own sneakers in his home arena.
He nearly did.
“I’ve been paying tribute, homage and just showing love all the different eras in the sneaker game over the last couple of weeks,” Curry said postgame Dec. 18.
“Just the idea of trying to fuse some energy into the sneaker world while I can and the idea of me and Book, the relationship we’ve been able to build over the last couple of years, especially since he’s been in the league and playing together at the Olympics. There’s a bond there for sure. I was trying to beat him in his own shoes. Didn’t work.”
The relationship trumps the outcome of a basketball game for the two. Curry understands his overwhelming impact on those who have followed him in the game like Booker, but competition is one of the foundational components of their bond.
“I like the generation that we’re playing and the fact that you can have respect for somebody, for him, he’s like eight years younger, but you’re still battling,” Curry said about Booker. “You can still go at it out there on the court and you’re able to bring it.
“Even though I was wearing his shoes, I told him I wanted to beat him in those shoes. You still appreciate the moment.”
Booker delivered a couple of pairs of his new Book 2s to Curry when Phoenix played Dec. 20 at Golden State.
“Want him to be one of the first ones in them,” Booker said.
The new Book 2s are set to drop in January 2026.
“It’s always exciting,” Booker said last week. “Just see people wearing them around the league. Highly favored in the W (WNBA). Just seeing people in the streets.”
People like his bro, Steph.
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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