As a historically relevant NBA franchise in a major media market, no shortage of All-Stars have been linked to the New York Knicks. So much so that those rumors are a universe unto themselves. Half fantasy and half reality, the constant speculation of who\u2019ll be joining the Knicks is only matched by questions of who\u2019ll be going to the Los Angeles Lakers.<\/p>\n
Just this year, 20-time All-Star LeBron James<\/a> was said to have interest in signing with<\/a> the Big Apple ballers. Frankly, it\u2019s a scenario that could very well play out if James decides that the Los Angeles Lakers don\u2019t have what it takes to win a championship before he retires. It\u2019s a long shot though.<\/p>\n Among the marquee players firmly in their prime, Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker<\/a> is the most recent star supposedly hoping to make his way to New York.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s what ESPN pundit Stephen A. Smith had to say<\/a> on Monday:<\/p>\n \u201cFrom what I\u2019m being told, and probably I don\u2019t know if it\u2019ll ever happen, but Devin Booker wants to be in New York,\u201d Smith said. \u201cThat\u2019s what I\u2019m being told. Now, he might deny it, I haven\u2019t spoken to him, but I\u2019m just telling you, the scuttlebutt in the NBA circles is that brother wants to be in New York.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n It must be noted that Smith isn\u2019t exactly known for precise reporting.<\/p>\n Despite his stature within sports media, he\u2019s been repeatedly called out by players for alleged inaccuracies. However, while professional athletes often have an superhero-like persona to sports fans, it doesn\u2019t mean they\u2019re above misleading people publicly or privately. That said, only the parties privy to the specific information that Smith claims to have access to will ever truly know what\u2019s occurred.<\/p>\n Per PHNX Sports\u2019 Gerald Bourguet, a member of Booker\u2019s camp wholeheartedly disputes Smith\u2019s assertion<\/a> that Booker wants to play for the Knicks.<\/p>\n \u201cAccording to that source, the Knicks have been interested in Booker dating back to Leon Rose\u2019s instatement as team president back in 2020. Rose, a former CAA player agent prior to being hired by New York, once served as Booker\u2019s representation, and other Knicks personnel with connections to the 27-year-old Suns star recently put out feelers about his potential interest in coming to New York.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Bourguet adds that the Knicks\u2019 interest in Booker is \u201cone-sided.\u201d<\/p>\n The outline of New York\u2019s history courting Booker lends credence to his report. A New York native, Smith could very well have spoken to Knicks personnel about the matter himself. If so, he must have come away with a different interpretation (or been presented with a different view) of those \u201cfeelers.\u201d<\/p>\n Nonetheless, based on Bourguet\u2019s report, it appears that Booker respects the Knicks. He just doesn\u2019t want to leave a team he\u2019s helped bring back to championship contention. While that could change down the line, it doesn\u2019t make sense for him to make that move now. Not while he has 14-time All-Star Kevin Durant<\/a> beside him. A two-time NBA champion with the 10th-most point all-time (28,924).<\/p>\n Of course, it\u2019s unlikely that Booker or Durant expected to be eliminated in the First Round. They were met by adversity in the form of an early season injury to Bradley Beal<\/a> and questionable roster construction. Yet, there are seven All-Star selections between him and Beal. While Booker had his best season as a facilitator, Beal and Durant excelled at both ends.<\/p>\n Looking past the sting of disappointment, their Big 3 now has a chemistry-building season under their belt. With that and the return of sharpshooter Grayson Allen<\/a> alone, the Suns could fare better next year.<\/p>\nDevin Booker Has No Interest in Joining Knicks<\/h2>\n
Past the Disappointment<\/h3>\n