Devin Booker has come a long way from being a bench player at Kentucky and occasionally having <a href="https://www.on3.com/teams/kentucky-wildcats/news/licking-devin-bookers-car-is-now-a-thing/">people lick his car</a>. Now, instead of girls seeking out his sedan in the parking lot, NBA megastars are seeking out his presence to win an NBA title. 



(For what it’s worth, his vintage <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiVc3D7e5DY">car collection</a> these days is pretty dang lickable, much more so than whatever he probably drove in Kentucky during the pre-NIL era.)



Chris Paul publically acknowledged Booker was the main reason he coerced his way into a Suns uniform two years ago, and if it weren’t for a playoff injury, the Suns may have staved off Giannis Antetokounmpo and company in the Finals in 2021.



The latest NBA star to zone in on Phoenix as their ideal championship-caliber destination is Kevin Durrant. The Hall-of-Fame bound, albeit often disgruntled, superstar requested a trade over the summer from the Brooklyn Nets and listed the Suns as his preferred landing spot. The deal fell through when the Nets did not want Deandre Ayton, and the Suns did not want to part ways with Mikal Bridges.



Fast forward a few months to the trade deadline. The Suns’ new ownership, wanting to make a big splash, pushed the deal through, and while Phoenix had to give up a prized asset in Mikal Bridges, they acquired one of the best players in the world to form a starting lineup fit for an All-Star game.



Chris Paul, Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, Deandre Ayton, and take-your-pick-at-the-four-spot is as potent of a lineup as you will see in the NBA.



Vegas agrees. With the addition of Durant, the Phoenix Suns are now favorites to win the Western Conference and trail only the Boston Celtics to win the championship.



<h2 id="h-durant-is-excited-to-play-with-booker-and-vice-versa">Durant is excited to play with Booker and vice versa</h2>



I attended Kevin Durant’s first official game as a member of the Phoenix Suns. Granted, he spent that game on the bench wearing a hoodie, as he plans to let his ankle heal until after the All-Star break. But I can confirm: the buzz around the franchise is real.



The way <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/nets/news/devin-booker-reacts-to-kevin-durant-trade-to-phoenix-suns">Book put it</a>: 



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">“You can’t put it into words. It’s just all feeling…It’s something you’ve got to be around. It’s a feeling when you’re around greatness. When you’re around one of the best to ever do it. It’s a different look. It’s a different feel. Kinda hard to put to words, but I’m excited to be a part of it.”<cite>Devin Booker | Sports Illustrated</cite></blockquote>



Kevin Durant <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/kevin-durant-joining-suns-ive-002309458.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAFKlrd4Qw8vwW5bgFTMpF4SHXxWiGVbXmxVV6-kgVhD-fvlMj1pXJUa6I0DE71Hyvf5UwJeOnzZXcG5hAOBN6pYIPLDfOYR7glZ9ZzvTxj_ezlmNmFWgEeRtj3NggkXzhAXJxs6YDUEu0kOznxTrtqd1ohHF6DuEUQpi2yB9i-pr">agrees</a> and is ready to get to work:



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">So I knew this would be a great place to play, and a great place to continue to get better as a player. You got somebody like Devin, Chris Paul, and Deandre Ayton, guys that work. And I wanted to be a part of that…They’ve built themselves up, and built the structure and infrastructure up for themselves already. And I’m looking forward to adding to it.<cite>Kevin Durant | Yahoo! Sports</cite></blockquote>



<h2 id="h-super-team-dynamics">Super team dynamics</h2>



The worry some people have with super teams is the hierarchy. With so many alpha dogs alongside each other, which one will bark the loudest? <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/suns/analysis/phoenix-suns-not-worried-about-hierarchy-devin-booker-kevin-durant">According to Booker</a>, they each bring a different kind of bark:



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">“We don’t have no hierarchy. That’s the thing about it. You have Chris Paul, one of the greatest leaders of all time — I think we all have different type of leading styles, which is the great thing about leadership is it comes in many different forms. And I think all of our games, and our mindsets, complement each other very well.”<cite>Devin Booker | Sports Illustrated</cite></blockquote>



The other thing with super teams that propel them from a collection of a few superstars to being truly superb is the role players. The Suns received TJ Warren in the KD trade and signed Terrance Ross in the buyout market thus far. 



Overall, they have a decent collection of scoring and defense on their bench, but what the team could really use is a backup point guard, as Cam Payne has missed most of the year with an injury. Atop the list of available players who would fit that dynamic is John Wall, and while I have no insight into the feasibility of this happening, I will continue to try to will it into existence.



I’d also love to see the Suns bring in DeMarcus Cousins but considering his beef with CP3, that is likely not happening.



Even if Phoenix does not bring in any former Kentucky players, Book is in the best position of his career to win a championship and add some more <a href="https://www.on3.com/teams/kentucky-wildcats/news/show-devin-booker-respect/">respect to this name</a>. I want to see him do it.

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UK 72, Ole Miss 63

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