It’s an excellent time to be an NBA player, especially if you’re Devin Booker. He just signed a contract extension with the Phoenix Suns, has one of the best chances of playing with Kevin Durant next season, and has been named as the next NBA 2K video game cover athlete.
The Phoenix Suns superstar shooting guard has the next cover of the wildly popular sports video game franchise’s upcoming installment of NBA 2K23. While this goes without saying, you have to be one of the best players in the league even to be considered a candidate for a 2K cover athlete. “Book” is one of them.
While becoming a cover athlete, he joins an exclusive group of greats such as Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, teammate Chris Paul, Magic Johnson, and many more all-time great basketball players. While this might not go on his résumé when he’s trying to make the Hall of Fame in the future, blessing the cover of an NBA 2K game is a dream of many younger players like Book who grew up playing the game.
Suns and Devin Booker are finalizing a four-year, $214M supermax contract extension, per @ShamsCharania pic.twitter.com/qxmk6KxXOM
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 30, 2022
This is not something everyone gets a chance to do, and Booker, who received league MVP considerations this past season, is now reaching new heights in his career and making the 2K cover is another example.
Additionally, the massive contract extension he received from the Phoenix Suns, a four-Year $224 million supermax extension that kicks in during the ’24-’25 season, shows his worth to the organization. His total contract value amounts to six years and $295 million.
As if Booker’s summer couldn’t get any better, his team could be getting better. The squad with the best record in the league last year is just a year removed from a Finals experience.
Now they have a realistic chance of adding Kevin Durant to their star-studded roster this summer, as he has formally requested a trade from the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday. Durant named the Phoenix Suns as one of his top desired trade destinations, along with the Miami Heat.
Supermax AND NBA 2k23 Cover Athlete.
Devin Booker is officially a SUPERSTAR. pic.twitter.com/1sqalRcePx
— Suns Are Better (@SunsAreBetter) June 30, 2022
A trade for Durant would cost a king’s ransom of assets to acquire him. Just like most of the league, Phoenix is on the phone negotiating trade packages for Durant, possibly centered around a Deandre Ayton-KD swap.
Though multiple sources are claiming that Brooklyn would only send KD to Phoenix in a trade for Booker, it is improbable that Phoenix will ship their newly signed supermax franchise star for Durant, who is 33 and unpredictable.
KD just joined the Nets three years ago and hasn’t even played out the entirety of his contract, so trading away one of the greatest players of your franchise’s history for someone who could want out after a botched playoff run the next year is absurd.
Kinfolk!!!!! 🗣 @DevinBook pic.twitter.com/a7l5Un4MA5
— Odell Beckham Jr (@obj) June 30, 2022
Instead, the Suns will try to angle a trade package centered around a disgruntled Deandre Ayton, whom the Nets have expressed interest in for Durant. If that trade can work, this will only add to arguably the best summer Booker has had in his life, which he’s earned.
This came from another stellar all-star season where Devin Booker averaged 26.8 ppg and reached the Western semifinals. He is the centerpiece of this franchise, and general manager James Jones has done a fantastic job of building a contender around him that is set to contend for years. All Book has to do is continue working. If he can do that, a 2K cover will be the tip of the iceberg.
