Kevin Durant and Devin Booker aren’t previous, however their veteran management stands out alongside a lot of their youthful teammates on the courtroom. Phoenix Sunstogether with two who performed highschool ball within the Phoenix space.
Durant, now 36, entered the league in 2007 when he was 18 years previous. Booker, who turns 28 on Oct. 30, was additionally 18 when he began in 2015 after being drafted by the Suns.
Their youngest teammates on the Suns’ 20-man roster at coaching camp have been both toddlers, kindergartners or nonetheless in center faculty when Durant and Booker grew to become stars within the league. This consists of their 2024 first-round picks Ryan Dunn (21) and Jalen Bridges (23), in addition to Valley natives TyTy Washington Jr. (22) and their second-round decide Oso Ighodaro (22). .
Durant mentioned he was impressed by the Suns’ youth. Booker desires to assist them nevertheless he can.
“It’s simply life, man. I am simply grateful to be right here this lengthy and to have the ability to achieve a lot data and data over these many years, after virtually 20 years of taking part in,” Durant mentioned with a smile throughout observe from the Suns on Wednesday. “I am additionally getting quite a lot of vitality from the youthful gamers, so the extra I assume the higher for me.
Kevin Durant on his Suns teammates who have been both toddlers or in kindergarten when he entered the NBA in 2007:
“It’s simply life, man. I am simply grateful to be right here this lengthy. pic.twitter.com/sb10LgC1Sa
-DANA (@iam_DanaScott) October 2, 2024
The 6-3 Washington Jr. is a former Laveen Cesar Chavez and Chandler AZ Compass Prep standout level guard. He was a Kentucky staple like Booker and was drafted by Memphis in 2022. Washington is in his third 12 months after a number of trades, together with stints in Houston, the G League and Milwaukee. He signed a bilateral settlement with Phoenix in August.
Raised in Chandler, Ighodaro, 6-10, was thought of one of many high gamers in June’s draft when he was taken by the Marquette Suns within the second spherical. He led Phoenix Desert Vista to the AIA Convention 6A state title in 2020.
“It’s not a standard state of affairs to be drafted to your hometown staff or to be in the marketplace in your hometown staff,” Booker mentioned Monday. “They perceive the significance of Phoenix Suns basketball, and I’ll do my job to be a pacesetter and provides all of them the items that I’ve picked up alongside the best way.
Some examples of gamers touchdown with an area staff embody the Cleveland Cavaliers drafting LeBron James, who grew up in close by Akron, Ohio, in 2003. Udonis Haslem’s total 20-year profession was spent with the hometown Miami Warmth till his retirement in 2023 and Mark Jackson. , born in Brooklyn, was drafted by the New York Knicks in 1987.
Booker known as Washington a “a really particular expertise” as a result of his draft inventory elevated just a few years in the past earlier than destiny introduced them collectively.
“It feels actually good. I grew up watching him play,” Washington mentioned. “I keep in mind his first few seasons right here, simply watching how he developed, and now I am his teammate. I’ve seen his work ethic up shut, it is actually cool. I do know that if I ever want one thing, I don’t should hesitate to ask.”
Washington remembers when Booker and the Suns have been within the doldrums earlier than their successful tradition took off in the course of the 2020-21 season, the final time they reached the NBA Finals.
“It reveals that it’s a must to belief your work and be constant each day,” Washington mentioned. “It needed to be for him to achieve success, not just for him but in addition for the group.”
Ighodaro mentioned throughout his introductory press convention in July that he did not develop up as a Suns fan as a result of the staff was dangerous for a number of years main as much as his highschool commencement. However after becoming a member of the Suns, there is not any higher place than house to reside out your professional dream alongside Booker and Ighodaro’s former AAU teammate, Washington.
“He’s been an excellent position mannequin of the way you strategy issues as an athlete,” Ighodaro mentioned of Booker. “Clearly, dwelling right here and watching it develop, at all times doing issues the appropriate manner, behaving the appropriate manner is one thing you possibly can study from.”
Suns normal supervisor James Jones mentioned Washington and Ighodaro are examples of the rising variety of high abilities coming from the Phoenix space.
“I believe it’s extra of a testomony to the standard of basketball right here in Phoenix,” Jones mentioned. “Phoenix is a basketball city and there is quite a lot of expertise, if you happen to speak about it from a highschool standpoint, from a university standpoint. These guys are excellent gamers as amateurs and once they transfer up the ranks of the NBA.
“If there’s a possibility to get a extremely good participant, and there is native ties, I am fairly certain it is nice for the fan base, however extra importantly, it is nice for the gamers. There’s at all times a little bit extra you produce when you may have the prospect to do it at house in entrance of your followers and your loved ones, in your group.
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This text was initially printed on Arizona Republic: Booker, Durant and Suns’ youngest Valley natives encourage one another
