Stephen A. Smith suggests Devin Booker should leave the Phoenix Suns for the Detroit Pistons following the Suns' playoff exit. This comment came after their loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round.
Key points
Stephen A. Smith suggests Devin Booker leave the Suns
Booker could join the Detroit Pistons
Suns lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder in playoffs
Smith questioned the need for a split between Booker and the Suns
Devin BookerPhoenix SunsDetroit PistonsOklahoma City Thunder
Stephen A. Smith suggests Devin Booker to Detroit in erratic Suns segment
The ESPN analyst is doing this just one day after the Suns lost their first-round playoff series to the reigning NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder, who finished this regular season with the best record in the NBA.
"Who needs a split more? Is it Devin Booker from the Suns, or the Suns from Devin Booker?" Smith was asked during ESPN's First Take episode on Tuesday, April 28.
Booker is the franchise's leading scorer (18,120 points scored).
"I think it's Devin Booker from the Suns," Smith replied. "I love what Ishbia and the Phoenix Suns are doing, and I applaud them. And I don't blame them one bit for wanting to hold on to a staple like Devin Booker, but it's time that we look at Devin Booker differently."
Phoenix Suns forward Oso Ighodaro (11) defends Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) during Game 4 of their playoff series at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 27, 2026.
Why did Stephen A. Smith suggest Devin Booker should join the Detroit Pistons?
Stephen A. Smith suggested Devin Booker should join the Pistons due to the Suns' recent playoff loss and the need for both Booker and the team to reassess their futures.
What happened to the Phoenix Suns in the playoffs?
The Phoenix Suns were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Oklahoma City Thunder, who had the best record in the NBA this season.
What did Stephen A. Smith say about Devin Booker on ESPN's First Take?
On ESPN's First Take, Stephen A. Smith questioned who needed a split more, Devin Booker from the Suns or the Suns from Devin Booker, highlighting the tension in their current situation.
What are the implications of Devin Booker leaving the Suns?
If Devin Booker leaves the Suns, it could significantly impact the team's performance and future strategies, as he is a key player.
Related Articles
Sports·Preview
Texas UIL baseball bi-district playoffs set to begin later this week
Texas UIL baseball playoffs set to begin with top teams competing
Yahoo Sports··1 min read
Sports·Transfer
Virginia Tech basketball: Elon G Ned Hull transfers to Hokies
Elon guard Ned Hull joins Virginia Tech for the 2026-27 season
Yahoo Sports··1 min read
Sports·Recap
Coastal Carolina crushes UNC in lopsided top-10 showdown
Coastal Carolina crushes UNC 12-2 in a dominant top-10 showdown!
Yahoo Sports··1 min read
NBA·Recap
Hawks-Knicks Game 5 takeaways: Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns are a problem
Knicks dominate Hawks 126-97 in Game 5, taking a 3-2 series lead!
Yahoo Sports··1 min read
Sports·Recap
Best social media reactions from Texas A&M's 9-7 win against Tarleton
Texas A&M baseball secures a 9-7 victory over Tarleton!
Yahoo Sports··1 min read
Sports
NCAA agrees to strike down another rule as part of new legal settlement
NCAA eliminates prize money restrictions for student-athletes in new settlement.
See every story in Sports — including breaking news and analysis.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) lays the ball up against the Phoenix Suns during Game 4 of their playoff series at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 27, 2026.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell (25) shoots the ball over Phoenix Suns guard Collin Gillespie (12) during Game 4 of their playoff series at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 27, 2026.
Phoenix Suns forward Oso Ighodaro (11) fights for the ball with Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein (55) during Game 4 of their playoff series at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 27, 2026.
Fans cheer from the stands as the Phoenix Suns take on the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game 4 of their playoff series at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 27, 2026.
Fans cheer from the stands as the Phoenix Suns take on the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game 4 of their playoff series at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 27, 2026.
Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks yells out to the referees as they take on the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game 4 of their playoff series at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 27, 2026.
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) is introduced before tipoff against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game 4 of their playoff series at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 27, 2026.
1 / 8
See Phoenix Suns take on Oklahoma City Thunder in NBA Playoffs Game 4
Phoenix Suns forward Oso Ighodaro (11) defends Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) during Game 4 of their playoff series at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 27, 2026.
See Phoenix Suns take on Oklahoma City Thunder in NBA Playoffs Game 4
Phoenix Suns forward Oso Ighodaro (11) defends Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) during Game 4 of their playoff series at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 27, 2026.
See Phoenix Suns take on Oklahoma City Thunder in NBA Playoffs Game 4
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) lays the ball up against the Phoenix Suns during Game 4 of their playoff series at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 27, 2026.
3 / 8
See Phoenix Suns take on Oklahoma City Thunder in NBA Playoffs Game 4
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell (25) shoots the ball over Phoenix Suns guard Collin Gillespie (12) during Game 4 of their playoff series at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 27, 2026.
4 / 8
See Phoenix Suns take on Oklahoma City Thunder in NBA Playoffs Game 4
Phoenix Suns forward Oso Ighodaro (11) fights for the ball with Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein (55) during Game 4 of their playoff series at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 27, 2026.
5 / 8
See Phoenix Suns take on Oklahoma City Thunder in NBA Playoffs Game 4
Fans cheer from the stands as the Phoenix Suns take on the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game 4 of their playoff series at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 27, 2026.
6 / 8
See Phoenix Suns take on Oklahoma City Thunder in NBA Playoffs Game 4
Fans cheer from the stands as the Phoenix Suns take on the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game 4 of their playoff series at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 27, 2026.
7 / 8
See Phoenix Suns take on Oklahoma City Thunder in NBA Playoffs Game 4
Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks yells out to the referees as they take on the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game 4 of their playoff series at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 27, 2026.
8 / 8
See Phoenix Suns take on Oklahoma City Thunder in NBA Playoffs Game 4
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) is introduced before tipoff against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game 4 of their playoff series at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 27, 2026.
Smith then went into extensive detail on Booker's accomplishments in the NBA. He called him "one of the elite scorers in this game," mentioned his five All-Star selections in the past seven seasons, mentioned his All-NBA selections and more. As soon as he was done, however, Smith called Booker out.
"My brother, when are you going to start winning?" Smith asked. "And I'm not throwing any shade, I'm just saying that — his gifts, his greatness as a player — at some point in time, we demand so much of everybody else. What about him? I mean, he gets no shade thrown at his direction."
Smith himself has thrown so much shade at Booker that he once famously said Booker's trade value is that of Kyle Kuzma (who has never been an All-Star, let alone an All-NBA selection,) "a multitude of players and even a pick." Booker led the Suns to a Western Conference Finals series win the next season, beating Kuzma and the Lakers (the team Smith wanted him traded to) in the first round of the playoffs.
"We all hear what a great guy he is," Smith continued. "We all know what a great talent he is, and we certainly have heard about his golf game. His golf game, and some of his business ventures. He is very, very, very comfortable in Phoenix, Arizona. He is beloved out there. I don't blame him. I don't blame them."
It is not clear how these things mean that Booker needs to leave Phoenix.
"But at some point in time, I want to see a Devin Booker that's literally clamoring and starving to win," Smith said. "Like it hurts and it's not good, and it's an awful sickening feeling that you can see on his face that losing does to him. I need to see that. Not a player that seems content balling out, being elite, but his team losing every year, he home in April and it ain't no big deal."
Per Smith, Booker not breaking and not feeling sorry for himself means he is content with "his team losing every year."
"I need to see the dude where, 'Yo man, I want a damn championship,'" Smith said. "I need to see that draped all over his persona. And I don't see that right now, and that's why I think he's the one that needs to be looking to leave and find himself in a winning situation. I said earlier; the Detroit Pistons, my god. Could they use Devin Booker."
To be clear, it remains extremely unlikely that Suns owner Mat Ishbia would even take a call involving Booker. Perhaps Smith thinks Kuzma plays for Detroit now.
