The Phoenix Suns returned to victory in New York on Saturday night, beating a Knicks team that was without two of their most important players.
Many were surprised to see Devin Booker play an impressive 38 minutes and score 27 points, both team highs, just days after spraining his left ankle.
Booker’s willingness to play shows how much he believes in the Suns
There couldn’t be a better indication that he thinks this squad has a chance to not only make the playoffs, but win a series, and then play through the pain to get there.
Booker did say in the aftermath that he knew “the adrenaline” would kick in once he got going, but that just proves his clearly not 100 percent ankle was on his mind first.
“With those guys in the building, guys I grew up with, inspired by; I’ve known Gallo since I was 12, him and my dad played together…
“All the history here…one of the most famous locations in the world”
– Devin Booker at MSG with Danilo Gallinari, JR Smith, Amar’e, Z-Bo, Novak, Ewing pic.twitter.com/LhI9vDf0Vx
— New York basketball (@NBA_NewYork) January 18, 2026
The 29-year-old missed just one game of this six-game Eastern Road Swing, a loss to the Detroit Pistons, after returning to the court in the loss to the Miami Heat after rolling his ankle in that game.
If you go back to the last few seasons when Kevin Durant was in town, do you think that would have happened? Is it more likely that Booker sees guys like Dillon Brooks and Collin Gillespie giving it their all every night, and just like his days with Team USA, saying, “I’ll do it”?
He wouldn’t put his body on the line if he didn’t think this squad could do something special this season, and in reality they have already achieved that by being competitive.
It’s definitely easier to get yourself pumped up before a game when you have second-quarter MVP Brooks in your ear, while head coach Jordan Ott has created a team of defensive threats that care about every possession.
No one could have blamed Booker for stalling out this season. His second signature shoe just dropped, he’s loved in The Valley and he’s financially secure thanks to his monster contract.
But instead of rejoicing in the fact that this team is more competitive than anyone could have imagined, he’s getting back out there as soon as possible to win games.
Booker also said after the game that he had so many Knicks legends in his house and that he had to be in Madison Square Garden to feel all that energy.
That’s something only a true hooper would say, and we know Booker certainly is. He’s always been there when Phoenix needs him, and is as committed as he’s ever been.
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