Today’s NBA money is completely different from days of the past, and the new contract extension between Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns proves that fact.
On Wednesday, the Suns and Booker agreed to a two-year, $145 million max contract extension that keeps the 4x All-Star with the team through the 2029-2030 season.
More significantly, it makes Booker the highest-paid player on an annual salary basis with $72.5 million per year. That eclipses the history-making four-year, $285 million extension signed by NBA champion and NBA Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the OKC Thunder. His deal pays him $71.25 million annually.
Booker, 28, has averaged 24.4 ppg and 5.2 apg in his 10-year NBA career, but last year was one of his worst seasons when it came to field goal percentage and three-point shooting.
The Suns were expected to sign Booker to a max deal, a process which started by moving superstar Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets. Owner Matt Ishbia also made changes to the front office and coaching staff, replacing former head coach Mike Budenholzer with former Cavs assistant Jordan Ott.
In return for Durant, the Suns acquired Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks and the 10th pick in this past June’s NBA Draft, which became Duke center Khaman Maluach.
By locking up Booker and bringing in more talent to surround him with, the Suns are showing their commitment to return to the NBA Finals like they did in 2020-21, when Booker and Chris Paul led the Suns in a clash against the eventual-champions, the Milwaukee Bucks.
A year later, the team won a franchise-best 64 games and Booker finished fourth in MVP voting.
But since then, the Sun ahs gone down in the desert. Hopefully Booker’s massive deal can make it rise again.
