Damian Lillard commended Booker’s evolution from a gifted scorer to one of the NBA’s elite, crediting his mental toughness and dedication under pressure Lillard defined loyalty as staying true to oneself rather than to an organization, saying Booker exemplifies that by steadfastly pursuing his own goals Booker solidified his place as the Suns’ cornerstone with a two-year, $145 million contract extension signed this summer Since being drafted in 2015, Booker has logged 673 games for Phoenix without ever leaving the franchise, navigating multiple lineup changes Booker now prepares to shoulder team leadership in 2025–26 without a proven co-star, guiding a young core that includes Jalen Green, Mark Williams and Grayson Allen
