Devin Booker’s Historic New Contract – What It Means for Phoenix
Phoenix Suns superstar Devin Booker has just reached another career milestone. On July 10, 2025, he signed a two-year, $145 million maximum extension, ensuring his presence in Phoenix through the 2029–30 NBA season. With an average annual salary of $72.5 million, this deal sets a new record for the highest average yearly extension in NBA history, narrowly surpassing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s prior mark.
Why This Extension Matters
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Franchise Backbone: Booker, a four-time All-Star and two-time Olympic champion (2020, 2024), has become the undeniable face of the Suns since being drafted in 2015 .
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Record-Breaking Salary: The $72.5M AAV eclipses the previous record held by Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($71.25M), underlining Booker’s superstar stature .
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Strategic Timing: The deal locks Booker in before free agency, granting Phoenix calendar flexibility and serious leverage in future trade or roster maneuvers.
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Leadership in Offseason Shift: The extension comes alongside major front-office and roster changes: Brian Gregory becomes GM, Jordan Ott is hired as head coach (with Booker’s input), and Kevin Durant has been traded away.
Financial Implications – Money vs. Cap Dynamics
| Season | Annual Salary | Estimated NBA Cap | Percentage of Cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028–29 | $72.5 million | ~$200 million | ~36.3% |
| 2029–30 | $72.5 million | ~$220 million | ~33% |
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As the NBA cap inflates (projected around $200M–$220M), Booker’s percentage of the cap shrinks from roughly 36.3% to about 33%, making the mega-deal more feasible for Phoenix.
What This Means for Booker, the Suns, and the NBA
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Booker’s Commitment
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Stays with the Suns well into his prime, reinforcing the team’s long-term stability.
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Phoenix’s Message
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By offering a record AAV, the Suns declare Booker as their no. 1 pillar and show league-wide ambition.
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Improved Leverage
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Prevents Booker from entering free agency; ensures Phoenix controls critical decisions like future trades and roster building.
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Roster Overhaul Underway
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Durant traded in a seven-team deal; incoming pieces include Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, and rookie Khaman Maluach.
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New coach Jordan Ott’s hiring even had Booker’s involvement.
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Cap Dynamics
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Strategic investment timed to coincide with rising salary cap. Recognizes how longer contracts (like Durant’s) increase trade leverage .
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Scoring Records & On-Court Dominance
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Suns’ All-Time Scorer: In February 2025, Booker surpassed Walter Davis to become Phoenix’s all-time leading scorer (16,452 points).
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Statistical Consistency: Over the last 10 seasons, he’s averaged 24.4 PPG, and for the seventh straight season has exceeded 25 PPG .
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Clutch Performer: Delivered a game-winning stepback versus Milwaukee in March and has accumulated four game-winners this year .
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Efficiency Trends: Although he had a slow start in 2024–25 (shooting dipped to ~45.3% FG, 33.9% 3PT), he rebounded strong mid-season and returned to high-level production.
Public & Media Reaction
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Praise & Validation: Social media buzzed with support—analyst Shane Young tweeted, “Once again: You ALWAYS pay your guys.”
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Editorial Backing: Bright Side of the Sun suggested the extension was less about rewarding Booker and more about “leverage and vision”—a strategic choice.
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Spanish Media Takes: AS noted the Suns are “betting everything on Booker,” highlighting ongoing pressure from the Western Conference’s competitive environment.
What Comes Next?
Phoenix is embarking on a new era:
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New Leadership: GM Brian Gregory and coach Jordan Ott take charge with Booker’s endorsement.
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Roster Rebalancing: With Durant gone, the team counts on younger pieces like Green, Brooks, Maluach to step up alongside Booker.
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Chapter Two: As postseason aspirations loom, Phoenix aims to build around Booker’s prime, supplemented by cap flexibility and emerging talent.
Final Thoughts
Devin Booker’s new $145 million, two-year extension marks more than a historic paycheck—it’s a statement of intent. Phoenix is saying: “He leads here, now and ahead.” Locked in by cap-savvy timing and organizational retooling, this move binds Booker’s legacy—with it, the Suns are banking on both stability and aspiration. As we move into the 2025–26 season, all eyes will be on whether this gamble pays off with deep playoff runs—and perhaps, that elusive championship.
