$320 Million Over Five Years: Is 28-Year-Old Devin Booker Really Worth It?

The Phoenix Suns had one of the most disappointing seasons in recent memory. A roster that cost over $400 million—second only to the Golden State Warriors—failed to even make the Play-In Tournament. And yet, despite the collapse, Devin Booker might be on the verge of signing one of the richest contract extensions in NBA history.

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Booker is eligible for a two-year, $149.8 million extension starting July 7. The widespread belief across the league is that the Suns will put that offer on the table as soon as they can. ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported the same back in April, shortly after the regular season ended. If this extension goes through, it would add to Booker's current deal, which already runs through 2028, pushing his commitment to the franchise through 2030.

Let’s break down the numbers. Booker’s current contract includes salaries of $53.1M, $57.0M, and $61.0M over the next three seasons. If extended, his total earnings over the next five years would top $320 million. His average salary would exceed $64 million per year, with the final season paying out over $76 million. To put this in perspective: LeBron James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, didn’t surpass $300 million in total career earnings until his 17th season. Booker could surpass that in just the next five.

That speaks volumes not only about the player empowerment era, but also about the NBA’s financial explosion under Commissioner Adam Silver. With the new media rights deal looming, league revenues are set to balloon, dragging player salaries up with them. It’s entirely conceivable that players like Anthony Edwards, Victor Wembanyama, or even Cooper Flagg may become the NBA’s first $100 million-per-year superstars.

But back to Booker. The question now is a straightforward one: Is he truly worth that kind of money?

If you asked this question in 2021 or 2022, the answer would have been a resounding yes. Booker was coming off an NBA Finals appearance and consecutive All-NBA seasons. He was clutch, consistent, and absolutely central to Phoenix’s identity. But in 2024, the context has changed—dramatically.

Let’s talk production. This past season, Booker played 75 games and averaged 25.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 7.1 assists while shooting 46.1% from the field, 33.2% from three, and 89.4% from the line. His true shooting percentage was 58.9%, a noticeable drop from the two prior years when he eclipsed 60%.

Booker ranked ninth in scoring and tenth in assists, which on the surface still looks strong. But the eye test and deeper metrics suggest he regressed, especially as a lead option. His assist-to-turnover ratio was 2.4, below average for a player handling the ball as often as he does. His defense remained below average, and his on/off stats painted an unflattering picture: when he was on the court, the Suns were outscored by 3.2 points per 100 possessions. When he sat, that number improved slightly to -2.8.

Worse still, when Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal shared the floor—an experiment that was supposed to form one of the most dangerous offensive trios in league history—the Suns were outscored by 4.1 points per 100 possessions. This wasn’t a small sample size fluke either. The three played together in 37 games. That trio’s failure to mesh was perhaps the defining story of Phoenix’s season, and it’s hard not to place some of the blame on the franchise’s supposed cornerstone.

So again, is Booker worth $320 million?

Let’s talk role. Booker’s greatest strength has always been scoring. He’s a three-level threat, capable of getting buckets from anywhere on the court. But in recent seasons, the Suns have increasingly tasked him with primary ball-handling and creation responsibilities. While he’s shown flashes as a playmaker, he’s not a natural point guard. His decision-making in crunch time is inconsistent, and his ability to elevate teammates—while improved—is not elite.

The Suns’ most successful seasons with Booker—particularly their 2021 Finals run—came when he had a true point guard alongside him in Chris Paul, allowing Booker to focus on scoring. Since then, Phoenix has leaned into the idea of Booker as a Luka-style heliocentric engine. That’s just not who he is.

Now, there’s hope that new head coach Jordy Fernandez (formerly with the Cavaliers) will bring some structural clarity to Phoenix’s offense. It’s also been reported that Booker had a say in the coaching search, indicating that both sides are aligned—at least for now. But if the plan is to run back another year of Booker-Beal-Durant (or just Booker-Beal), the Suns are flirting with insanity.

The Beal fit, in particular, has been a disaster. The duo was outscored by a staggering 7.9 points per 100 possessions when sharing the floor. That’s not a small margin; that’s catastrophic inefficiency for two supposed superstars.

And yet, the Suns may still commit to Booker as their long-term anchor, both symbolically and financially. There are really only two plausible explanations:

1. Icon Strategy – The Suns may view Booker as their “Dirk” or “Duncan,” a franchise face they can market and build around for the next decade regardless of title outcomes. That sort of loyalty-driven thinking has value, especially in a city like Phoenix, where player retention has historically been an issue.

2. Asset Management – By extending Booker now, the Suns may be trying to raise his trade value in advance of a larger roster shake-up. If that sounds implausible, remember: if Luka Dončić can be floated in trade rumors, no one is truly safe. A player with years of team control and MVP-adjacent production is one of the most valuable commodities in the league, even if that value isn’t fully realized on the court.

The truth probably lies somewhere in between. Phoenix may still believe Booker is the guy, but they’re also hedging by maximizing his asset value. That’s savvy, but it’s also risky. If Booker stagnates—or worse, declines—the Suns could be stuck with a $76 million expiring contract that’s more albatross than asset.

From Booker’s perspective, there’s nothing to think about. If the Suns are willing to offer that deal, he should take it immediately. No player can afford to gamble with $320 million. But if Phoenix really does offer that extension, they’re making a statement not just about Booker, but about their entire franchise direction.

They’re saying: We’re doubling down.

On a player who hasn’t been First Team All-NBA since 2022.
On a core that got exposed in back-to-back playoff flameouts.
On a financial structure that leaves almost zero room for flexibility.

It’s bold. Maybe too bold.

Hot Take: Devin Booker remains one of the most aesthetically pleasing scorers in the NBA—a smooth midrange killer with enough gravity to bend defenses. But we’ve reached the point where aesthetics aren’t enough. Phoenix has spent nearly a billion dollars building a top-heavy roster that can’t even win a Play-In game. If Booker signs this extension, he has to be more than a vibe merchant. He needs to be that dude. The kind of player who bends playoff series, not knees. If he’s not—if he’s just “pretty good” while making generational money—this extension won’t be remembered as a vote of confidence. It’ll be remembered as the day the Suns mortgaged their future for a star they wanted to be a superstar... but never quite was.