Devin Booker speaks out on Suns teammate’s public unhappiness

Mar 3, 2020; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker prior to the game against the Toronto Raptors at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Devin Booker isn’t Michael Jordan, and he isn’t taking anything personally.

The Phoenix Suns star Booker spoke with reporters this weekend and reacted to what veteran teammate Eric Gordon recently had to say. Gordon publicly expressed unhappiness with his role on the team and indicated that he could be maximized more offensively.

‘Nobody takes what he said personal around here,” said Booker of Gordon’s comments, per Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic. “He’s been in this a long time. He’s earned that respect and he has the talent to do what he said.”

The Suns are a very disappointing 14-14 this season (11th in the West), so tensions are running somewhat high right now. Gordon, a talented shooter but one who can also put the ball on the deck and make good things with two feet in the paint, had come on strong to start the season. But in the month of December, he is averaging a mere 8.3 points on 8.4 shots per contest (despite the Suns still being without fellow guard Bradley Beal).

Gordon, now 35, is in his first season with the Suns but commands a certain level of respect as a 16-year NBA veteran who has been part of multiple deep playoff runs. Booker, the longest-tenured Sun and the team’s de facto leader, has been around some problematic teammates in Phoenix but doesn’t seem to think that Gordon is one of them.